should longtime franchise centerpiece Tim Duncan retire.De

CLEVELAND -- With Mondays non-waivers trade deadline fast approaching, two teams expected to be active, one as a buyer, one as a seller, will meet Friday night at Progressive Field for the first game of a three-game series.The Oakland As, who have been one of the hotter teams in the league since the All-Star break, will face the Cleveland Indians, who have come stumbling out of the break.The As have won five of their last six games and are 9-4 since the break. The Indians have lost four of their last five games and are 5-6 since the break.Even with their recent surge, the As are still 47-55 and in fourth place in the AL West while the Indians are 57-42 and in first place in the AL Central. However, in the last eight days the Indians have seen their lead in the division shrink from 7 1/2 games to 4 1/2 games.The As were thought to be sellers at the trade deadline, and have a handful of players who might be of interest to a contending team, but as the series in Cleveland begins, the As havent made any significant moves.I know theres some time left, but we havent moved anybody, As manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com. Were playing better baseball and that certainly gives pause for thought.The Indians, on the other hand, have been leading their division since June 3, but still have some needs that they would like to address before Mondays trade deadline. Chief among those needs is bullpen help, specifically a left-hander.For most of this season the Indians have operated with no left-handers in their bullpen. They currently have just one: Kyle Crockett, who is a finesse lefty, who hasnt allowed a run in five appearances in July, but still has a 7.36 ERA in 16 appearances overall.When hes confident and hitting his spots and working ahead he can do it, said manager Terry Francona. But he doesnt have the luxury of having a 95 mph fastball, which allows you to get away with some mistakes. When he makes his pitches, hes fine.A left-handed reliever is at the top of the Indians trade deadline shopping list, with a catcher being a close second. Catcher Yan Gomes is expected to miss at least another month with a separated shoulder. In Gomes absence backups Chris Gimenez and Roberto Perez have shared the catching duties.In game one of the series Friday night the As starter will be Kendall Graveman, who has been on a roll. Clevelands starter, Trevor Bauer, has struggled in recent starts.In his first nine starts this season, Graveman was 1-6 with a 5.36 ERA. But in 10 starts since then he is 6-0 with a 3.25 ERA. In four July starts he is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA. In his last start, July 23, he pitched his second career complete game in a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. In two career starts against Cleveland Graveman is 0-1 with a 2.92 ERA.Bauer has had three rough outings in a row. On July 1 he was 7-2 with a 3.02 ERA. But in three starts since then he is 0-2 with a 7.47 ERA. Fridays start will be Bauer second career appearance vs. the As. On Aug. 2 of last year, a 2-1 Oakland victory in which he pitched 6 2/3 innings, he gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Hydro Flask Cyber Monday Sale . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Swell Black Friday Sale . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. http://www.waterbottleblackfriday.com/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Hydro Flask Cyber Monday . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Swell Cyber Monday .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. SAN ANTONIO -- A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Dewayne Dedmon has agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move. Dedmon is a 26-year-old, 7-foot center who spent the last two-plus seasons in Orlando.He gives the Spurs another riim protector and defensive presence off the bench.dddddddddddd He also serves as some insurance should longtime franchise centerpiece Tim Duncan retire.Dedmon has also played for Golden State an