PHOENIX -- Catcher Henry Blanco has declined his end of a US$1. .15 million mutual option for 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks exercised their options on Blanco and infielder Willie Bloomquist on Monday, but both opted to become free agents. Arizona also declined options on left-hander Zach Duke and infielder Aaron Hill. Blanco hit .250 with eight homers and 12 RBIs as Arizonas backup catcher. The 40-year-old from Venezuela served as a mentor for young all-star catcher Miguel Montero and was a sturdy leader in the clubhouse for a team that reached the playoffs after consecutive 90-loss seasons. [url=http://www.mlbyankeesteamshop.com/black-28-joe-girardi-womens-jersey/]Joe Girardi Yankees Jersey . Top Picks: Over the last three seasons, C Claude Giroux has put up 216 points, the fourth-best total in the league. Even with an offseason finger injury, Giroux is a good bet to be among the top scorers in the league, making him a No. Landon Donovan USA Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. ... Pyatt Jersey . QPRs first win in the topflight at Stamford Bridge since March 1979 was secured by Shaun Wright-Phillips scoring against his former club. The end of Chelseas four-game winning run in one of the biggest shocks so far this season left Benitezs side fourth in the standings, 14 points behind leader Manchester United. Lion... Messi Barcelona Jersey. However, the company was unable to fulfil the final year of its commitment. A former luger and president of an oil and gas company awarded cash bonuses to athletes for podium and top-10 finishes for two years after the 2010 Games, but those incentives no longer exist. The luge team will get $973,000 in funding in 2013-14 from Own The Podium, the organization that directs taxpayer dollars to national sports federations. In the four years between 2010 and 2014, OTP will have directed $3.2 million to the luge team. OTP money goes to athletes who have demonstrated Olympic and world championship medal potential. Top sliders like Gough and Edney have personal sponsorships, but the CLA needs a team sponsor to fund the next generation of sliders. "Sponsorship money filled the gaps and voids between the national team, junior national team and all the way down to grassroots programs," Edney explained. "We need that money to bring those athletes up and get them to the world level and get them to the podium." The lugers arent the only Canadian team to lose a title sponsor post-2010. Canada Post ended its relationship with the freestyle team this year. The bobsled and skeleton teams have been without a title sponsor since 2011 when its contract with credit card company Visa expired. General Motors left Alpine Canada, but the organization brought Audi on board in 2011. "I know its tough out there," Farstad said. "We dont expect to be treated any different than anybody else. I know the big sports have lost sponsors. For us, it was just bad luck, Id say. "Its not demoralizing. Were in the best situation weve ever been as a sport, so Im hopeful well find a partner out there." Canadas luge team is currently training in Calgary before heading to a training camp in Whistler. The World Cup season opens Nov. 16-17 in Lillehammer, Norway. The Canadian stop on the circuit is Dec. 6-7 in Whistler. The luge competition at the 2014 Games starts Feb. 8 with mens singles and concludes Feb. 13 with the team relay. ' ' '