CURITIBA, Brazil -- Cesc Fabregas says Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho convinced him to sign with the Premier League club after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said there was no place for the midfielder at his former club. Rogelio Armenteros Jersey . Fabregas will join Chelsea after the World Cup though Arsenal had first right to buy the 27-year-old Spain international. Wenger told Fabregas that Arsenal "had that position well covered and it would be hard to find a place for me." Fabregas says Mourinho, meanwhile, "very quickly told me what I wanted to hear. He won me over and convinced me. It all happened very quickly from that point." Fabregas leaves Barcelona after three seasons with his boyhood club where he was never fully embraced: "My era at Barcelona is over and there is nothing more to say." Justin Verlander Astros Jersey . -- Manager Bob Melvin shuffled the Athletics batting order and got the type of production he was looking for from the top of the lineup. Will Harris Astros Jersey . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack. https://www.cheapastros.com/1213o-jose-altuve-jersey-astros.html .The 24-year-old quarterback spent four seasons at Northern Illinois and in 2013 was a finalist for the Heisman, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U.ATLANTA -- Rory McIlroy is perplexed that his remarks on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson being on the "last few holes" of their careers caused so many headlines. McIlroy was asked on the eve of the Tour Championship whether Woods and Mickelson not being eligible for the 30-man field represented a changing of the guard. He disagreed, saying that Woods was injured most of the year and Mickelson had played well in spots but was going through a long stretch. Noting their ages (Woods is 38, Mickelson is 44) and injuries, he said they were "getting into sort of the last few holes of their careers." He went on Twitter that night to explain what he was asked and what he said. "I was going through Twitter last night and it was like, Hold on, did I say something bad here? I dont think I did," McIlroy said Thursday after opening with a 69. "Look, I know Tiger and Phil really well. I get on really well with both guys. Ive said much worse to Tiger before." McIlroy and Woods recently made the rounds on talk shows together. McIlroy said Wednesday: "Phil has played well in parts this year. He came really close to winning the PGA. I feel like hes gotten a little better as the year has went on. Astros Jerseys 2020. But its a lot of golf for him to play in such a short space of time. So you could see he was getting a little tired the last couple of weeks. And, I mean, Tigers not here just because hes been injured or he is injured. He hasnt had the opportunity to play. "But I think if he gets back and when he gets back to full fitness, youll see him back here again. So Im not sure ... theyre just getting older. Phils 43 or whatever he is and Tigers nearly 40. So theyre getting into the sort of last few holes of their career. And thats what happens. You get injured. Phil has to deal with an arthritic condition as well. So it obviously just gets harder as you get older. Ill be able to tell you in 20 years how it feels." McIlroy said he didnt feel he had to defend himself, but that his tweets were to clarify his remarks. "I thought I was very complimentary," he said. "I said the only reason Tiger wasnt here was he didnt have the opportunity. I wasnt writing him or Phil off at all. ... I didnt say anything out of line or wrong." Asked if he felt as though he needed to explain his remarks to Woods, McIlroy smiled and said, "Ive said worse to his face." ' ' '