Talk » Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Matt Joyce hopes to play more regularly again in his new role with the Oakland Athletics, who needed a new outfielder to fill a big void and put him high on their offseason list.The versatile Joyce reached agreement on an $11 million, two-year contract Wednesday after passing a physical.Obviously the biggest thing that was kind of noticed for me was how interested they were and the opportunity to get substantial playing time again coming from the situations that I was in last year, Joyce said. Were really pumped and excited for the whole opportunity and how it worked out.The 32-year-old journeyman has played 140 games in each of three of the last four seasons, batting .242 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI this year for Pittsburgh. A regular pinch hitter, he started 30 games in right field and is likely to be a regular against right-handed hitting with a possible platoon role with Mark Canha.Joyce will earn $5 million in 2017 and $6 million the following season. Oakland dealt right fielder Josh Reddick to the Dodgers at the trade deadline and then sent Coco Crisp back to his former Cleveland club.Joyce will play for his fifth major league team as he begins his 10th season. The security means a lot for Joyce as he prepares for the birth of his first child.It was obviously the perfect fit, Joyce said. It was a great fit for the kind of player I am and the kind of organization Oakland is. Its a good opportunity with a two-year deal on the table with a lot of security and the chance to play a lot is huge for me.At 69-83, the As responded from losing 10 of 11 to win their final two games at Seattle and finish with one more victory than a year ago. But they finished in fifth place and at the bottom of the AL West for the second straight season -- another year of injuries and big-name departures.One of general manager David Forsts first calls this offseason was to Joyces agent, Seth Levinson.I told him I thought Matt would be a good fit. We made no secret of the fact that we were out there looking for outfielders, Forst said. Hes a guy who has played in the American League, spent a year in the American League West, hes familiar with everything here. He has a really consistent track record of hitting right-handed pitching.While Forst envisions Joyce as a regular against righty pitchers, Oaklands brass also took notice of his adjustments and progress hitting lefties last season. For a club that puts value in walks and on-base percentage, his patience at the plate was another important factor.The As are still actively looking for a center fielder and might add at the corner outfield spots, too, Forst said.Catcher Stephen Vogt will be a familiar face for Joyce as they were teammates in 2012 with Tampa Bay.Im excited to have Matt here! Vogt wrote in a text message. He was a good friend and teammate and happy to be playing with him again. He is a smart and great hitter with one of the smoothest swings in baseball. We are going to learn a lot from him.Custom San Francisco Giants Jerseys . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. San Francisco Giants Gear . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/ . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. San Francisco Giants Store . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Giants Jerseys 2019 . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery.TULSA, Okla. -- TK Edogi had career-bests in scoring, with 15 points, and rebounding with 10 as Tulsa got its first win of the season 77-68 over New Orleans on Saturday.Edogi was 7 of 8 from the floor. Jaleel Wheeler also had 15 points and Junior Etou chipped in 14 and dished out five assists.The Golden Hurricane (1-2) had a hot second half to take control after the first half ended in a 34-34 tie. Tulsa made 61 percent of its shots in the second period to ffinish 31-of-57 shooting while limiting New Orleans to 25-of-61 shooting.ddddddddddddEdogi had a layup at the 15:24 mark of the second half to start a 10-2 run and give Tulsa a 54-42 lead. New Orleans closed to 71-66 with 2:28 left following a Christavious Gill trey but could get no closer.Gill led New Orleans (1-2) with 23 points. ' ' '