MINNEAPOLIS -- Kendrys Morales is on his way back to Seattle to try and give the Mariners struggling offence a boost as they chase a playoff spot. Terry OReilly Jersey . The Minnesota Twins traded Morales to the Mariners on Thursday for minor-league pitcher Stephen Pryor. Morales hit 23 home runs and drove in 80 runs for the Mariners last season, but turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from Seattle to become a free agent. "Hes a professional hitter," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He gives us the opportunity to stretch out our lineup, so to speak. Hes a nice fit, switch-hitter, hitting behind Robbie (Cano). "He gives us options, what we want to do with (Kyle) Seager, where we want to hit him," McClendon said. "I like it." Morales sat out the first two months of the season while searching for a new deal, signing a pro-rated $12 million contract with the Twins on June 8. But he hit .234 with 11 doubles, one homer and 18 RBIs in 39 games with the Twins, who have faded from contention in the AL Central. The Mariners, who started the day with a half-game lead for the second wild-card spot in the AL, are hoping a return to Safeco Field could help Morales rediscover his swing. Seattle has the best ERA in the majors, but the Mariners offence is 14th in the American League in runs scored. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said missing spring training and the first two months of the season has had an impact on Morales slow start. He believes hes close to his hitting stride. "I dont think there is any question about that," Zduriencik said. "I thought it was interesting that he went right to the big leagues but that plays a part in the negotiations. "Nevertheless, when you look at where hes at right now, we know what Kendrys is, we know his career as a hitter, we know what he did here and now that hes in a pennant race and technically has spring training under his belt -- he did it at the major league level -- I think we all feel that Kendrys is going to hit his stride and be the Kendrys Morales we all know," he added. Morales was signed by the Twins to be the everyday designated hitter, but he played a lot of first base while filling in for the injured Joe Mauer. "I think he was a good teammate. I think he was a good influence on some of the players in this clubhouse. He got off to a surprisingly quick start and then cooled off, of course," Twins GM Terry Ryan said. "We gave it a shot. Obviously, our club hasnt responded." In the first sign that the Twins are starting to look at selling some of their veteran pieces to retool for next season, they acquired the 25-year-old Pryor in the exchange. Pryor has appeared in 34 games for the Mariners since 2012, posting a 2.81 ERA. He will report to Triple-A Rochester. Pryor, who once regularly had his pitches clocked at 100 mph, started this season on the disabled list after having surgery to repair a torn right latissimus dorsi muscle. He made one appearance for the Mariners this season. He was 2-2 record with a 5.71 ERA in 34 2-3 innings for Triple-A Tacoma this season. The Twins also recalled infielder Jorge Polanco from Class A Fort Myers. David Krejci Bruins Jersey . Now he can be had by any team willing to pay his salary. According to a report from ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping the veteran CB and plan on releasing him Wednesday if they cant find a trade partner. Ray Bourque Authentic Jersey . The league announced the decision on its website Saturday, shortly before AC Milan was due to kick off against Genoa at 6 p.m. local time. The 25-year-old Morosini died about an hour earlier after suffering cardiac arrest during his teams Serie B match at Pescara.Germanys Felix Loch successfully defended his gold medal in mens luge on Sunday at the Sanki Sliding Center in Sochi. Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51.613. "Im really overwhelmed. We have worked very very hard over the summer," Loch said. "[Coach] Georg Hackl and I are a superb team. He helps me a lot." "We experimented a lot over the summer and it paid off." Russias Albert Demchenko was unable to catch the defending Olympic champion, but snagged a silver medal with a time of 3:28.002. Italys Armin Zoeggeler became the most decorated mens luge athlete of all time with a bronze medal-winningg time of 3:28. Carl Soderberg Jersey. .797 for his sixth medal in as many Olympic appearances. Zoeggeler eclipsed Lochs coach, Hackl, for the all-time mark with two gold, one silver, and three bronze over the Italians career. Canadas top slider was Calgarys Sam Edney, who finished in 11th with a combined time of 3:29.777. Edney will return to the luge track as part of the Canadian team relay squad, with competition beginning in that event on Thursday. Olympic rookies Mitchel Malyk and John Fennell, both 18-year-olds from Calgary, finished 26th and 27th overall, respectively. "I cant complain, its my first Olympics, its a new experience," Fennell said. "The amount of people that showed up for the race was unthinkable. ' ' '
