VANCOUVER -- Shortly after being named to his first head coaching job, Carl Robinson was on the phone with Camilo Sanvezzo to talk about getting the Vancouver Whitecaps star striker a new contract. Ramik Wilson Rams Jersey . Robinson said that December conversation was cordial, with Sanvezzo expressing excitement about what lay ahead for the Whitecaps in 2014. "Three days later he was in Mexico with an opposition shirt on," said Robinson. "So obviously that put the cat amongst the pigeons and then we needed to address that situation." The Whitecaps finally did that on Friday, selling Major League Soccers top scorer to Queretaro F.C. in what it called a "multi-million dollar" deal that ended a messy, two-week long soap opera. Last seasons Golden Boot winner with 22 goals, Sanvezzo had turned his back on the Whitecaps, practising with Queretaro and posing for pictures in the teams kit, even though the flashy Brazilian was still under contract with Vancouver. When Robinson travelled to Mexico to sit down with the 25-year-old Sanvezzo last week to see if anything could be done to heal the relationship, he knew there was no way back. "It surprised me and Ive been in football 25 years," said Robinson. "Hopefully we can put it to bed and move forward." That could prove to be a challenge. The Whitecaps -- who will get the majority of transfer fee, with MLS pocketing the rest -- tried to put a positive spin on a situation that can only be described as a disaster both on and off the field with pre-season training set to start next week. Sanvezzo joined Vancouver in 2011, scoring 39 goals in 92 league games, including 75 starts. The Whitecaps scored 53 times in MLS play last season, with Sanvezzo playing a part in 28 of them. He even told reporters after the Whitecaps missed the playoffs and fired head coach Martin Rennie that Robinson -- then an assistant with the club -- would be a good candidate for the job. "Its a frustrating situation because we believe we did what we needed to do," said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We talked about sitting down with him and doing a new deal ... prior to getting to that, he was in Mexico in another teams jersey." While the Whitecaps could have gone the legal route and forced Sanvezzo -- who had two option years left on his deal -- back to Vancouver, Lenarduzzi said his mind was already made up. "When we sat down with Camilo, he said he was done," said Lenarduzzi, his voice raised as he met with reporters at Vancouver International Airport after arriving back from the MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia. "He had given Queretaro his word that he would be going there. "Why are we going to battle someone that doesnt want to be here, thats actually reneged on his word when he signed a contract with us and then turned around and says hes given a club that hes going to, who he doesnt have a contract with, his word? "He doesnt want to be here, obviously, so on you go." Queretaro president Adolfo Rios apologized in a brief statement released by the Whitecaps for the way in which the situation was handled. "On behalf of our club, we sincerely regret our misunderstanding in regards to Camilos contract earlier in the process," the statement read. Sanvezzo made US$247,500 last season, which put him third on the Whitecaps, but that number paled in comparison to fellow striker Kenny Millers salary of nearly $1.25 million. Robinson said Sanvezzo never asked for a raise and was made aware that no contracts talks would take place until a new coach was named. The loss of Sanvezzo creates an obvious hole up front for Vancouver, but perhaps more importantly, the spectacular departure also leaves the Whitecaps looking weak from a public relations perspective after the player simply refused to honour his contract. Trying to find a silver lining and with the regular season less than two months away, Robinson and Lenarduzzi both said that the money from the sale will be invested back into the club -- perhaps a creative midfielder that the Whitecaps have been lacking. Vancouver fans have watched Canadian cousins Toronto FC make major moves this off-season, including the signings of striker Jermaine Defoe and midfielder Michael Bradley. "There will be a number of signings coming in. Over the last few weeks weve had a lot to deal with," said Robinson. "Hopefully in the next few days and weeks there will be a lot of new players coming in." Lenarduzzi added that Sanvezzos departure opens up a spot for some of Vancouvers younger players, including strikers Darren Mattocks, Omar Salgado and Kekuta Manneh. "We have some guys that are ironically enough pretty excited that Camilos not coming back, not for the fact that they dont get along with him but (because) its going to provide opportunities," said Lenarduzzi. The off-season was anything but quiet for the Whitecaps before the Sanvezzo soap opera took centre stage in the new year. The team took six weeks to name a new coach, with Vancouver striking out in its attempt to hire former United States national team boss Bob Bradley before settling on Robinson. Mattocks also went on Jamaican television and expressed his displeasure with how he was used during the 2013 campaign. The 37-year-old Robinson, just past the first month at the helm, said the Sanvezzo saga has been a learning experience. "Ive dealt with it professionally and honestly and the club has done the same as well," said the Welshman. "Im sure Ill be a better person for it and a better head coach moving forward." Notes: The Whitecaps said that midfielder Andre Lewis, who was drafted seventh overall on Thursday, is their property despite a report that said he had signed with the NASLs New York Cosmos. Both Lenarduzzi and Robinson said MLS and the Cosmos are dealing with the situation and that Vancouver expects that Lewis will take part in pre-season training. ... Lenarduzzi said the Whitecaps are nearing a deal that will keep captain Jay DeMerit with the club. Ndamukong Suh Rams Jersey . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt and listen on TSN 690. The Canadiens have won three in a row and four of their last five games and recently put the finishing touches on a 3-1-0 road trip. John Kelly Jersey . -- A.J. Burnett was happy to escape from New York. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-John-Kelly-Jersey/ . -- Alex Anthopoulos spoke volumes with what he didnt say on right-hander Ervin Santana. BALTIMORE -- Even though the Boston Red Sox insist that theyve turned the page from last year, their first win of the season was eerily reminiscent of 2013. David Ortiz and Mike Napoli homered, John Lackey threw six sharp innings and Boston ruined the Baltimore debut of Ubaldo Jimenez with a 6-2 victory Wednesday night. Dustin Pedroia had four hits for the defending World Series champion Red Sox, now 1-1 after losing to Baltimore on opening day. "Dustin, David and Mike. Thats three of the better hitters in the league," said Boston manager John Farrell, who rode the trio to 97 wins during the 2013 regular season. Lackey (1-0) looked even sharper than he did last year, when he had a 3.52 ERA in 29 starts. In this one, the right-hander allowed two runs and three hits before handing the ball to the bullpen, which finished with three scoreless innings. "I just threw country hard balls the first few innings, then was able to mix in other pitches later on," Lackey said. "I was very pleased for the first time. It felt pretty good. Its something I can keep building on." Lackey said he made "one mistake" -- an 0-2 pitch that Nelson Cruz hit over the right field wall for his second homer in two games. But the Orioles did little else right against Lackey, who walked one and struck out six in improving to 14-5 lifetime against Baltimore. "He had command and he was throwing strikes and he was working fast," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. "It seemed like it was the fourth or fifth inning before we really started to see some pitches over the middle of the plate. Youve got to tip your hat to him. When he can locate like that with his kind of stuff, youre going to have success." Ortiz connected in the third inning and Napoli made it 4-2 with a two-run shot in the fifth. Both homers came off Jimenez (0-1), who signed a four-year contract with the Orioles in February after winning 13 games with Cleveland last year. "The one to David, that was a good pitch," Jimenez said. "It seems like he was looking for that pitch and he hit it good. But the one to Napoli, I would definitely like to have that back. Oh-and-2, biig mistake. Marcus Peters Jersey. I was trying to go away and left it right down the middle." Jimenez allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out six in his lamentable Orioles debut. "You always want to win. But it is part of the game," he said. "Thats how it goes. I still have 30 more games to go. I have to get ready for my next one." Ortiz put the Red Sox up 2-0 in the third inning with a drive to right following a single by Pedroia. Ortiz was 0 for 7 lifetime against Jimenez before connecting. "The pitch to Ortiz wasnt a bad pitch," Wieters said. "He was probably looking for something in and he got it and he didnt miss it. Youve got to give him credit." Lackey gave up a leadoff single to Nick Markakis, then retired 11 straight before Chris Davis walked with two outs in the fourth. Cruz followed with an opposite-field drive to right on an 0-2 pitch. Signed as a free agent in February, Cruz has accounted for all of Baltimores four runs this season -- three RBIs and a run scored. In the fifth, Jimenez hit Daniel Nava with a pitch and Napoli homered on an 0-2 count. Boston pulled away in the seventh against Ryan Webb. After two singles and an intentional walk to Ortiz loaded the bases, Napoli lined a two-run single to left. Napoli had a major league-leading 31 RBIs last year with the bases loaded. And this year, nothings changed. "In that situation, youve got one out and the bases loaded, so Im just trying to hit a flyball to get the run in," Napoli said. "I just happened to get a base hit, so thats extra. Its nice to come through in those situations." NOTES: Thursday nights series finale features a duel of left-handers: Bostons Felix Doubront against Wei-Yin Chen. ... Baltimore LHP Johan Santana, seeking to rebound from shoulder surgery, threw 30 pitches off a full mound Wednesday in Florida. "Its encouraging to see that Johans throwing all his pitches," manager Buck Showalter said. ... David Lough went 0 for 4 and Steve Lombardozzi went 1 for 3 in their Orioles debut. ... Lackey has gone at least five innings in 23 of 24 starts against Baltimore. Cheap Hawks Jerseys Cheap Celtics Jerseys Cheap Nets Jerseys Cheap Hornets Jerseys Cheap Bulls Jerseys Cheap Cavaliers Jerseys Cheap Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Pistons Jerseys Cheap Warriors Jerseys Cheap Rockets Jerseys Cheap Pacers Jerseys Cheap Clippers Jerseys Cheap Lakers Jerseys Cheap Grizzlies Jerseys ' ' '