Numbers Game looks at the As getting Jon Lester from Boston, sending Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox along with a deal involving the As and the Minnesota Twins.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- In a severe blow to the Netherlands World Cup hopes, midfielder Kevin Strootman looks certain to miss the tournament in Brazil because of a serious knee injury. AS Roma said Monday that the 24-year-old Strootman will undergo surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and possibly damaging the meniscus in his left knee during Sundays 1-0 loss at Napoli. Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said in a statement he talked to the injured midfielder by phone. "I can imagine his world is falling apart at the moment," Van Gaal said, adding that Strootmans loss "is also a blood-letting for the Netherlands team." The left-footed midfielder has captained the national side in the past and is widely considered a future full-time leader for his country. A strong tackler, he is also comfortable bringing the ball forward in attack. Strootman has played 25 times for the Dutch national side as a midfield enforcer, scoring three times. He was one of only a handful of players virtually guaranteed a place in Van Gaals World Cup squad. "Kevin played a major role in our qualification for the World Cup in Brazil," Van Gaal said. The 2010 runners-up have been drawn to play defending champion Spain, Chile and Australia at the World Cup. <a href="http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Rashaan-Evans-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=984">Rashaan Evans Titans Jersey</a>. Freddie Roach said if the Rios fight "does not go well, we will seriously talk about his retirement," but that Pacquiao was training as well as ever for the Nov. <a href="http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Luke-Stocker-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=989">Luke Stocker Jersey</a>. Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. <a href="http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Bennie-Logan-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=988">http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Bennie-Logan-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=988</a>. - Vince Wilfork has played only two career games in Kansas City. <a href="http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Will-Compton-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=991">Will Compton Titans Jersey</a>.C. - NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick headlines this years electees into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. <a href="http://www.titansfansproshop.com/Black-Malcolm-Butler-Titans-Jersey.html?cat=993">Malcolm Butler Jersey</a>. -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks.TORONTO -- At the world figure skating championships last spring, Piper Gilles wore a bejewelled Canadian flag that shed crafted herself on the right shoulder of her bodysuit. She wasnt a Canadian yet, but had fingers crossed her citizenship would come through in time to compete at the Sochi Olympics with ice dance partner Paul Poirier. Her dream was realized Tuesday at a citizenship ceremony in Toronto. "I have felt like a Canadian citizen for some time and I am extremely excited that it is now official," Gilles said in a release. "Ive dreamed about competing in the Olympics my whole life and hope to be in Sochi next year. There is no bigger stage than the Olympics and it would be an honour to represent Canada in front of the entire world." Gilles, whose mom Bonnie is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., was born in Illinois and moved to Canada in 2011 to train with Poirier, a native of Unionville, Ont. Thhey were second at the Canadian championships last winter in a field missing Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, who were fourth at the 2012 world championships.dddddddddddd Gilles and Poirier will try to earn one of Canadas three ice dance spots for the Sochi Olympics at the Canadian figure skating championships Jan. 9-15 in Ottawa. Barring any major mishaps, Olympic champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and Weaver and Poje will be locks to secure the first two berths. "This sets up an exciting battle in ice dance at the upcoming 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships," Skate Canadas CEO Dan Thompson said in a release. "This adds one more team into the very strong ice dance field competing for those spots." Weaver also moved north for her figure skating career. The Houston-born skater became a Canadian citizen on June 22, 2009. Canadas figure skating team will be announced on Jan. 12. <a href="http://www.chinawholesalejerseysnfl.com/">Wholesale Jerseys</a> ' ' '