VANCOUVER -- For at least a few hours, the Vancouver Whitecaps could put the Camilo Sanvezzo saga aside. Darqueze Dennard Jersey . As their best player continued to orchestrate his dramatic exit from the club, the Whitecaps added size and creativity at Thursdays Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Vancouver had two picks in the first seven, taking defender Christian Dean at No. 3 before adding midfielder Andre Lewis at No. 7. "Being selected is a dream come true," said Dean. "Especially a team on the West Coast, growing up in California ... (Vancouver is) close to home." Hearing a player actually wanting to be with the club should come as welcome news for fans of the Whitecaps, who are now resigned to the fact that Sanvezzo -- the flashy Brazilian striker who won the 2013 MLS Golden Boot -- will be sold to a Mexican team after forcing Vancouvers hand. And its not only Dean who is happy about his new team. "My mom is ecstatic," he added. "I think shes happier than I am." The 20-year-old from East Palo Alto was selected using the pick Vancouver acquired in the July 2012 trade that sent striker Eric Hassli to Toronto FC. Dean spent the last three seasons with the NCAAs California Golden Bears, starting all 55 games he played. "I bring energy. Big, athletic, on the larger side," said Dean, who stands six foot three and weighs 198 pounds. "Good feet -- especially at centre back, I kind of pride myself a little bit on that. Its something that I like to use to my advantage." The Philadelphia Union, who hosted the draft, traded up to take Connecticut goalkeeper Andre Blake with the first pick before D.C. United used the second selection to take defender Steve Birnbaum, who was Deans college teammate at Cal. "I dont know much about Philly," said Blake, who originally hails from Jamaica. "I heard something yesterday about how its the place for a cheesesteak or something. Thats as much as I know. But Im pretty sure Ill get adjusted and learn everything I need to know." Meanwhile, the Montreal Impact took Creighton defender Eric Miller with the fifth pick, FC Dallas took Calgary-born striker Tesho Akindele from the Colorado School of Mines at No. 6, and Toronto FC traded up to draft Xavier defender Nick Hagglund at No. 10. Left-footed with the ability to play either in the centre or left of defence, Dean said he will have to increase the physical side of his game against MLS competition. "I think I will have to adapt. College was a physical game, especially stepping up from the youth level to college, it got more physical," he said on a conference call. "I think playing against bigger and stronger people, Ill have to become a lot more physical and to do that Ill just have to make a little mental jump." Dean might just get that chance as Vancouvers backline has at least one hole heading into training camp next month with the retirement of Y.P. Lee. Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit doesnt have a contract for 2014, but new head coach Carl Robinson has said he wants to bring the veteran back into the fold. "I think Im ready to come in and play, wherever I would have ended up," said Dean, who suited up as a centre back in college this season after two years on the left. "Especially with Vancouver, coming in the defence will be something that will be a possibility for me." Robinson said the Whitecaps had Dean rated high on their draft board and were delighted to see him available when it was Vancouvers turn to pick at No. 3. "Christian is a fantastic athlete. I think it was clear for everyone to see at the combine, as well as throughout the college season, that he was a fantastic prospect," said Robinson. "Hes got a lot to learn, but hes got a good head on his shoulders." Dean has never been to Vancouver and said that he wasnt tipped off during pre-draft discussions with the club that the Whitecaps would be his destination. "I talked to the coaching staff while I was at the combine during one of the player meetings and hit it off," he said. "Other than that there was no real talk of Hey, well select you or stuff like that. "It was kind of a bit of a surprise, but in the end Im happy that I got picked by Vancouver." Lewis was also pleased to be joining the Whitecaps, but for different reasons. "Im a fan of Vancouver because of Darren Mattocks," the 19-year-old said of the Whitecaps striker and fellow Jamaican. "I love the support that the fans give to Vancouver. Im looking forward to starting my professional career with the Whitecaps and to just go there and work hard and do my best." Lewis said he and Mattocks live about 10 minutes apart but that pair didnt speak about the possibility of being teammates in MLS. The five-foot-nine, 145-pound midfielder, who will join the Whitecaps from Jamaican club Portmore United F.C. when pre-season training begins next week, represented his country at the under-17 and under-20 levels before earning his first senior call up in 2012. "On the pitch, I always want to be a top player," said Lewis. "Win or lose, I want to be on top of my game at all times." Robinson said that like Whitecaps striker Kekuta Manneh -- a player that Vancouver selected fourth overall at last years draft -- Lewis has "something special." "I think hes got a fantastic football brain," said Robinson. "Hes got a fantastic understanding of the game for someone so young and he was a prospect that we wanted to make sure we got on board." Notes: As a Generation Adidas player, Deans salary will not count against the MLS salary cap. ... Dean said he is friends with Whitecaps striker Omar Salgado from their time with the U.S. under-20 team. ... In the second round, Toronto selected Elon midfielder Daniel Lovitz at No. 24, Vancouver took Connecticut striker Mamadou Diouf at No. 30 and Montreal went with Cal Poly midfielder George Malki at No. 37. ... The third and fourth rounds of the draft take place on Tuesday. Nick Vigil Jersey . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. A.J. Green Jersey . -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego. http://www.officialbengalsprofanatics.com/Black-Friday-Carl-Lawson-Jersey/ . Although the deal cannot be made official until the free agent moratorium period is lifted on July 10, Patterson has agreed to a three-year, $18 million extension to remain in Toronto, sources confirm to TSN.TORONTO - As the Toronto Blue Jays seek flexibility in their lineup, rotation, bullpen and payroll, Adam Lind became the odd man out.The Blue Jays traded Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday for right-handed pitcher Marco Estrada, ending the first baseman/designated hitters decade-long run in Toronto. Had they not found a trade partner, the Blue Jays planned to decline Linds US$7.5-million option for 2015 but instead got themselves another potential starter.This deals about reconfiguring the roster, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on a conference call. It gives us a lot of flexibility moving forward and also allows us to reallocate some dollars to some other areas of need.With Lind gone, Edwin Encarnacion figures to be the Blue Jays regular first baseman, freeing up the club to rotate players at the designated-hitter spot. Justin Smoak, claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners earlier in the week, may provide some depth in both areas as well. Lind, a third-round pick in 2004, has been in the majors on a consistent basis since 2007. The 31-year-old lefty hit .273 with 146 home runs and 519 RBIs over his career with the Blue Jays and won a Silver Slugger award in 2009.He hit in the middle of our lineup for a long time, Anthopoulos said. Theres no question the offence and the bat will be missed, but we have some other areas of need on the club and sometimes you have to make a tough choice and a tough decision.Ultimately that decision was to part ways with Lind, who has become a part-time player. In 2014, he hit .354 with a .942 OPS against right-handers but was just .061 and .223 against left-handers.Lind fills an area of need for the Brewers, who have been weak at first base since losing Prince Fielder to free agency before the 2012 season.Adam brings us a productive left-handed bat at a position of need with the ability to hit in the middle of the order, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement.In Estrada, the Blue Jays get a 31-year-old pitcher who could start in the bullpen and provide some insurance for the starting rotation. He made $3,365,500 last season, is eligible for salary arbitration and can become a free agent after the 2015 World Series.In seven seasons with the Washington Nationals and Brewers, Estrada has a 23-26 record with a 4.23 earned-run average. In 39 appearances in 2014, which included 18 startss, the Sonora, Mexico, native went 7-6 with a 4. Dre Kirkpatrick Jersey. 36 ERA.Marco performed well for us with his versatility to start or pitch out of the bullpen, Melvin said.Anthopoulos hopes that versatility continues in Toronto, where the rotation already appears set. The Blue Jays also picked up the $6.7-million contract option on left-hander J.A. Happ, who will likely return to the rotation along with R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison.Aaron Sanchez, the organizations top prospect who spent some time in the bullpen in 2014, will be stretched out to start in spring training as well, Anthopoulos said.The presence of Sanchez and the addition of Estrada gives the Blue Jays a wealth of pitching depth even after the team declined the options of right-handers Dustin McGowan, Brandon Morrow and Sergio Santos. Anthopoulos acknowledged he has work to do this off-season to re-make the bullpen.Thats not the only place the Blue Jays must focus on. The team extended a $15.3-million qualifying offer to Melky Cabrera, and though Anthopoulos said hed like to keep the veteran outfielder he did not sound optimistic about that possibility.It takes two parties to come to an agreement, Anthopoulos said. All you can do is negotiate and try to get deals done and make offers and counter-offers. But at some point if youre far apart, youre far apart and theres only so much that can be done.By extending the qualifying offer, the Blue Jays ensure they would receive draft-pick compensation if Cabrera signs elsewhere.As expected, the Blue Jays declined a $3.65-million option on Smoak, but the former blue-chip prospect remains under team control. They also picked up catcher Josh Tholes $1.75-million option and reinstated third baseman Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., infielder Maicer Izturis, right-hander Chad Jenkins and outfielder Andy Dirks from the 60-day disabled list and added them to the 40-man roster.Freeing up some of the $7.5 million that Lind would have made if he remained on the roster should give the Blue Jays a bit more money to work with.It does give us some options and some flexibility as we navigate through the off-season, Anthopoulos said. We have some ideas in free agency, we have some ideas in trades. Being flexibles going to be pretty important for us.———With files from The Associated Press.———Follow @SWhyno on Twitter. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '