KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves added to their extensive wave of long-term deals with their young stars on Sunday by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract with All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel, 25, avoided salary arbitration. He was the last Braves player eligible for arbitration. Kimbrel gets a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $7 million this year, $9 million in 2015, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017. The Braves have a $13 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. "We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Braves general manager Frank Wren said. "He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years." Kimbrels arbitration hearing had been set for Monday. The Braves offered $6.55 million and Kimbrel asked for $9 million. The Braves have been busy locking up some of their top young players and avoiding arbitration with long-term contracts. The deal with Kimbrel came only two days after the Braves and right-hander Julio Teheran, 23, agreed to terms on a six-year, $32.4 million contract on Friday. The deal includes a club option for the 2020 season. Earlier this month, the Braves announced multi-year deals with a pair of 24-year-old hitters -- first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Jason Heyward. Freeman agreed to the biggest contract in Braves history -- $135 million for eight years. Heywards contract is for two years and $13.3 million. The agreement with Kimbrel allows the Braves to retain one of baseballs most dominant closers. He has 138 saves in the last three seasons, including 50 saves with a 1.21 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 67 innings last year. He earned one save in 2010 as his introduction to his run of three straight All-Star seasons in 2011-13. Kimbrel has a 1.39 ERA with 381 strikeouts in 227 1-3 career innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has been successful in 139 of 154 career saves opportunities. Kimbrel, from Huntsville, Ala., said he wanted to remain close to home. "Im very excited," Kimbrel told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "If I didnt want to be here, this wouldnt be going on. Were playing to win. This is where I want to be." Kimbrel can add value to his contract through a points system. He would earn five points each time hes an All-Star, 10 for winning a Cy Young Award, five for finishing second or third in Cy Young, three for finishing fourth or fifth in Cy Young, five for being the top Cy Young voter-getter among pitchers with fewer than five starts; 10 for winning an MVP award, five for finishing second or third in MVP, third for finishing fourth or fifth in MVP, and three for each season with 57 or more games finished. Kimbrel would be paid $1 million for 20 points and $500,000 for each additional five points through 45. Mike Wagner Jersey . The CFL will help tackle womens cancers by playing four special "CFL PINK" games this weekend. Greg Lloyd Steelers Jersey . On Saturday, the paths of Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn cross again as opposing quarterbacks. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Greg-Lloyd-Elite-Jersey/ . Parnell will be out much longer if it turns out he needs surgery. But first, he will try resting for two weeks before beginning a throwing program that could last up to a month, general manager Sandy Alderson said. L.C. Greenwood Steelers Jersey . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. Custom Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said.The Colorado Avalanche pulled off a comeback victory in their first playoff game since 2010 and the Central Division champions hope to take a 2-0 series lead when they host the Minnesota Wild in Saturdays Game 2 from the Pepsi Center. Catch the game on TSN starting at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. Paul Stastny was the hero for the Avalanche in Thursdays opener, scoring with 13.4 seconds left in the third period to knot the score at 4-4 and then tallying the game-winner at 7:27 of overtime. The 5-4 decision was the first victory in the postseason for Colorado since taking Game 3 of a first-round series against San Jose on April 18, 2010. The Avs lost that set in six games and havent won a postseason series since beating Minnesota in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs. Meanwhile, Minnesota, which lost to Chicago in the opening round last spring, hasnt won a playoff series since beating Vancouver in the 2003 Western Conference semifinals. Colorado claimed its first division title since 2003 this season and is the second seed in the West. After Thursdays win, the Avalanche are now 5-0-1 against the Wild since the start of the 2013-14 campaign. The comeback triumph in Game 1 also marked Patrick Roys first playoff win as an NHL head coach. Of course, the legendary goaltender won four Stanley Cup titles in his playing days, including two with Colorado in 1996 and 2001. With his team trailing 4-3 late in regulation, Roy made a bold decision to pull goaltender Semyon Varlamov in favor of the extra attacker with 3:01 remaining in the third. The early pull paid off with Stastnys tying goal, but not before Avs defenseman Erik Johnson made a terrific hustle play to prevent an empty-net score that could have clinched the win for Minnesota. The Wild had a chance to extend their lead to two goals with Varlamov on the bench. Minnesota forward Erik Haula cleared the puck the length of the ice and the disc was headed for the net before Johnson hustled down and swept it away mere inches from the goal line. His play paid off a bit later as the Avalanche peppered Wild goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov with shots late in regulation and finally got one through. Holding the puck behind the net, Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon sent a pass to the left point where Johnson blasted a shot with Stastny putting home the rebound under the crossbar from the right side to send the game to overtime.dddddddddddd "Its just like every goal, theres four or five guys that make it happen," said Stastny. "There was so much spin on that shot I didnt even see it go in." On Stastnys OT winner, Colorados Tyson Barrie kept the puck in at the left point and was able to elude Minnesota forward Jason Pominville before pushing the puck to the low left side. From there, MacKinnon picked up the puck and skated around the right side where his pass was one-timed in by Stastny for the win. "We are confident in ourselves and we always play to win," said Stastny. "Its just a bit different pace out there, theres a lot more grinding and a lot more tedious. We have to get our rest and get ready for Saturday." Jamie McGinn and Ryan OReilly each posted a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who are in the playoffs after a three-season absence. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog also had a goal in his postseason debut. Varlamov made 29 saves for Colorado to improve his career postseason record to 11-9. The Avs played Game 1 without star forward Matt Duchene (knee) and defenseman John Mitchell (concussion). Both players will miss Game 2 as well. Charlie Coyle, Ryan Suter, Kyle Brodziak and Haula scored for the Wild, who are back in the playoffs for a second straight season after missing out four straight years. Zach Parise had two assists and Bryzgalov stopped 26 shots for Minnesota, which claimed the top wild card spot in the Western Conference. "I think despite the outcome of the game we did a lot of good things out there tonight," said Parise. "We made some mistakes in the third that resulted in the puck being in our net, and it cost us." The Wild hope to pick up a win Saturday so it can head back to St. Paul with the series tied 1-1. Minnesota is hosting Games 3 and 4, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday at Xcel Energy Center. This is the third all-time playoff meeting between the clubs. The Wild won a 2003 conference quarterfinals matchup in seven games, while the Avalanche knocked off Minnesota in six games during the same round in 2008. ' ' '