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ATLANTA -- R.A. Dickey was won over by an Atlanta Braves sales team that included two Hall of Famers, including a fellow knuckleballer.Dickey said he knew the Braves would be a good fit after meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, with a group that included manager Brian Snitker, general manager John Coppolella and two Hall of Famers -- former manager Bobby Cox and knuckleballer Phil Niekro.I had a great feeling then there was great hope I would be able to join the organization, Dickey said Thursday after agreeing to a one-year contract with an $8 million guarantee.He considers Niekro to be part of the Jedi council of knuckleballers who influenced his career.Phil and I have a good relationship, Dickey said. I consider him a friend. We filmed a documentary together.He gets a $7.5 million salary next year, and the Braves have an $8 million option for 2018 with a $500,000 buyout. The deal for the 42-year-old right-hander, the first of the 158 free agents to switch teams this offseason, is subject to a successful physical, tentatively planned for late next week.Dickey said he had the Braves near the top of a short list of prospective teams. He noted the short travel distance -- 3 hours, 15 minutes from doorstep to doorstep -- from his home to Atlanta was a big factor.Ive grown up a Braves fan and have always admired the organization, Dickey said.Dickey said having four children ages 14 and younger kept retirement an option if he did not find interest from the right team.Dickey had a career-high 20 wins and won the NL Cy Young in 2012, his final season with the New York Mets. The right-hander spent the last four years with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA this year.Dickey said the velocities on his knuckleball were as high as theyve ever been and he expects to pitch 200 innings in 2017.No one had double-figure wins for Atlanta this year, prompting Coppolella to say he will pursue at least two established starters on the free-agent market. Julio Teheran heads a rotation projected to include Josh Collmenter.Dickey is 110-108 with a 4.01 ERA in his career. He logged at least 200 innings five straight seasons from 2011 to 2015. Since 2010, his 1,441 innings rank ninth in the majors.He said it was a challenge to pitch in the AL Easts small parks and said the rebuilding Braves potential in their new SunTrust Park in suburban Atlanta was a selling point. Fake Knicks Jerseys . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Charles Oakley Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. https://www.cheapknicks.com/691x-kurt-thomas-jersey-knicks.html . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Carl Braun Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Dick Barnett Jersey . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70.STANFORD, Calif. -- American Jamie Hampton beat Stanford All-American Nicole Gibbs 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3 on Thursday in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic. The fourth-seeded Hampton is playing her first tournament as a seeded player. Gibbs, playing in her fourth tournament as a pro, was cheered on by a group of the Rose Bowl champion Stanford football players, led by quartterback Kevin Hogan.dddddddddddd In other matches, third-seeded Dominica Cibulkova of Slovakia downed Switzerlands Stefanie Voegele 7-5, 7-6 (5), and No. 7 Urszula Radwanska beat Daniela Hantuchova 7-6(3), 7-6(3). Cibulkova and Radwanska will meet Friday in the quarterfinal, while Hampton will play the winner of a late match between Madison Keys and Vera Dushevina. ' ' '