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SAN DIEGO - The Miami Marlins are serious about contending in the NL East. If signing slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a massive contract last month wasnt proof enough, a late flurry at the winter meetings sure made it clear.Miami acquired right-hander Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday morning for pitching prospect Anthony DeSclafani and minor league catcher Chad Wallach, just a short nap after landing All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon in a flashy seven-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers late Wednesday night.We want to build and we want to be competitive every year, and we want our team to play into October, said Mike Hill, Miamis president of baseball operations.The Reds traded away two arbitration-eligible starters in quick succession Thursday morning to help meet payroll restrictions. They also sent Alfredo Simon to the Detroit Tigers for two more youngsters, right-hander Jonathon Crawford and infielder Eugenio Suarez.This is it for now, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said after a busy final morning at the winter meetings. We got close to where we need to be — payroll-wise.The Marlins gave up their top pitching prospect, left-hander Andrew Heaney, in the deal for Gordon and right-hander Dan Haren.Haren has indicated he might retire rather than play for a team far from his family in Southern California, and Miami dealt its next-best pitching prospect in DeSclafani to add rotation depth.I think the Latos deal has really insulated us from that, so if anything happens in that direction, we still have a formidable rotation, Hill said. And if he stays, we have the player that we wanted.The 27-year-old Latos is coming off an injury-plagued season. He made only 16 starts because of knee and elbow problems, going 5-5 with a 3.25 ERA. He will help bolster a Miami rotation that will be without 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez, who is recovering from May elbow-reconstruction surgery, until the middle of 2015.That was the one thing we really wanted to do, is to make sure our rotation didnt have a drop-off and we remain strong until the return of Jose, Hill said.The Reds had to decide which starters to trade and which to try to sign after the season with Simon, Latos, 20-game winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake all in line for significant raises. Latos made $7.25 million in the final year of a two-year deal last season and is eligible for arbitration — as is Simon.Latos and Simon both could become free agents after next season. Trading the pair gives the Reds — 12th with a $115 million payroll this year — at least a chance to sign Cueto long-term.Im not sure well be able to do something or not, but its something well explore, Jocketty said. Obviously.The Marlins are adding pieces around Stanton, given a record $325 million, 13-year contract last month.Gordon led the majors with 64 stolen bases last season and made his first All-Star team. He was surprised by the trade but is excited to play in Florida in front of family, including his father, former major leaguer Tom Gordon.Gordon is especially excited to make noise on the bases for Stanton, the NL home run champ. Gordon got to know him while in Double-A.He hit the farthest home run I think Ive ever seen in my life, Gordon said. Its going to be amazing to hit in front of him.Hill said the Marlins arent done yet: Theyre looking for a first baseman.DeSclafani, who will turn 25 in April, was a sixth-round pick by Toronto in the 2011 draft. He made 13 appearances, including five starts, for the Marlins this year, and went 2-2 with a 6.27 ERA.He impressed Jocketty enough that hell get a shot at starting for the Reds.We think that DeSclafani will be a guy who will probably fit in our rotation, he said. He made some great strides with them at the end of the year.Wallach is the son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach. The 23-year-old was the Marlins fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft.Also, the Marlins sent Dan Jennings, a 27-year-old left-handed reliever, to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for 26-year-old right-hander Andre Rienzo.___AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum and Joe Kay contributed to this report. NHL Jerseys Outlet . Granato was an assistant for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last five seasons, and he was also part of Team USAs staff at the 2014 Olympics. NHL Jerseys Sale .com) - Pavel Datsyuk and Gustav Nyquist both scored in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings denied the Minnesota Wilds comeback bid with a 5-4 win on Tuesday. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/. The Eastern Conference-leading Celtics finished their recent trek at 3-1 on Monday in Salt Lake City when Rajon Rondo made a key jumper with 24.1 seconds remaining, as Boston held off the Utah Jazz, 107-102, at EnergySolutions Arena. NHL Jerseys China . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. Wholesale NHL Jerseys China . The 24-year-old right winger has one assist in nine games this season with the Sabres. In his career, he has three goals and six assists in 43 NHL games.So you were in college for four years and managed to maintain a 3.7 GPA. This is a draft known for its large amount of one-and-done players, how important was it to you to stay all four seasons?It was key for me. I mean it was an opportunity for me to get better, to get a degree and to do everything I wanted to do, I wanted to go to college. So I was able to just improve over those four years, clearly show that Ive been able to get better, work hard, the determination that I have as well to do something really good and get a degree as well as a number of academic accolades. So it was key for me. It taught me a lot of maturity, a lot of commitment and dedication. So I think that one-and-dones are not for everyone and if its not for you definitely take the time to stay in school and get a degree, it will help you in the long run. Was it ever difficult to balance basketball and school at the same time?Yeah, I mean a lot of the time when you have papers, homework, anything thats due, youve got to develop some good time management skills and thats something I think I really valued and really got out from college, being able to be good at time management skills, being able to prioritize and being able to put things in perspective that were most important. And for me that was at the time school and now its basketball. So now I think that its taught me a lot, but there are definitely times where its hard, definitely times after games and workouts where Im drained and I have to come back and do papers and homework and stuff like that. But ultimately it all works out and for me it was something that worked out for the best. When youre in the states, what is the one thing you miss most about Canada?(Image via Lays)Everything. I just miss being by family, I miss just being home. I also miss Tim Hortons [laughs], fuzzy peaches, ketchup chips, Ruffles all-dressed chips, just little things you wouldnt think about.Youve been posting the hash tag #DraftDreams. What does that mean to you? Charlotte was fun! On to the next! One step away! #DraftDreams — Melvin Ejim (@MelvinEjim) May 30, 2014Its important. Everything Im doing right now is for the drafts for the NBA and, you know, I just want to get people, especially on social media a way that they can follow me, a way that they can interact and feel like theyre coming along for the ride as well. So its definitely a cool thing to be a part of. But everything Im doing now is exactly what it means; its a draft dream. Im working as hard as I can to make that dream come true and that draft on the 26th is what everyone right now is working towards. So its important. Its just a way for fans and people to give support and interact with me on a social media network. So which players did you grow up idolizing?I really like Hakeem Olajuwon.(Image via Sports Illustrated) He was Nigerian. I really liked his game and even when I was in college playing the four, I thought he was someone who I could look up to for skill work; I mean hes trained a lot great players like Kobe, and guys who are smaller. I also liked watching Reggie Miller; he was a competitor. And obviously Steve Nash, being a Canadian, being someone who cares so much about Canada, those are three guys I grew up idolizing.Steve Nash said before that you were underrated by NBA scouts on Twitter, what did it feel like to get that compliment from Steve? @M3llyM3I wayyyy underrated by NBA scouts. RT @YungBoiMayes: Yo Melvin had 48pts and 18 Rebss!!!!!!!!!!! — Steve Nash (@SteveNash) February 8, 2014It was cool. Anytime that you are going underrated and people are starting to pick up on what youre doing, especially someone as renowned as Steve Nash who definitely knows the game and understands what it means to be a good player, for him to go out and say something on a social network , especially when he doesnt have to, that was a pretty cool feeeling.dddddddddddd Whenever you have someone like Steve Nash, who interacts with players and kids in colleges, to help you out and to be willing to be involved in your career, its great and its going to help you and its going to help basketball in Canada.Were you a big Raptors fan growing up?Yeah, I liked the Raptors because they were the only team we had. I wasnt watching any other sports or teams. Just watching them grow and develop, like through the Vince Carter years, and watching them really become a good team. Like this year, when people considered them not to have a good year, they were really able to overachieve. Thats great, and it shows perseverance. Theyve been able to a great job. You excited to workout with them tomorrow?Yeah. Anytime you can back home and work out for hometown team, youre always excited. You have the opportunity to work out for the team in your own backyard. Watching Vince Carter play, and watching those games, I never would have thought Id have the opportunity to play for them and to have the opportunity to work out for them and meet the people; its great, its refreshing. Its a gratifying opportunity. Did you play any other sports growing up?Yeah I use to play soccer, track and field and volleyball in high school. I played those competitively until tenth grade when I exclusively started playing basketball. Why did basketball stick out?(Image via Ames Tribune) It was just something I continued to get better at. When I went to school in the United States when I was 15 I was going there on a basketball scholarship and I didnt want to mess it up. Luckily, the school there didnt really offer any other sports I wanted to play so there was a chance for me to dedicate myself as a player.What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I have 11 siblings, I guess thats pretty surprising, not all with the same mother and father, but Im the oldest. I think when people see the things that I do and a lot of the academic stuff is something I try to preach because Im the oldest and I have brothers and sisters who look up to be and I want to set the best example that I can for them. My family and my siblings are the reason I go out and do what I do, Im trying to be the best role model I can be and guide them in the right direction.Whats your best basketball memory so far?I think obviously one of my best memories is the 48/18 game and that whole incredible experience.You know, the tournament runs, the last three years Ive had a great experience with a brand new group of guys and each team and each person has a special spot in my memory for the relationships and the things weve done together. When you get on an NBA court, is there going to be one guy youre playing against and just think "holy crap," Im playing against this guy?Right now, LeBron, Kobe and Kevin Durant and than there is guys like Paul Pierce, guys you would grow up watching whos a great player. I think Ill definitely have that moment but youve got to snap out of it quickly because youre going to be guarding and playing and playing against them, and you dont want to stand there with your mouth open. You have an admiration for these guys, but you got to shake it quick because now youre on the same page as these guys. I think that it may happen with a lot of people, but its only natural. So lets say you sign that NBA contract, whats the first thing you go out and purchase? Im probably going to get something for my mom, but Im not really a big spender, Im probably going to invest most of my money and make it last. Im not thinking about buying a huge car or a big house, Ill probably get something for my mom and my family and than open up a saving account and invest my money. Thats really how you set yourself up in the future. Dont forget to check out BarDowns sit-down with fellow Canadian NBA draft prospect Tyler Ennis. ' ' '