BRADENTON, Fla. – Reliever Ryan Reid, a Deering High grad, was among players reassigned to minor league camp by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

In seven games this spring, Reid pitched eight innings with a 1.13 ERA. He allowed five hits and a walk, and struck out six.

Left-hander Jeff Locke won the competition to be Pittsburgh’s No. 5 starter.

Locke beat out Kyle McPherson, who was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, and Jeanmar Gomez, who will begin the season in the bullpen. Gomez is out of minor league options and would have had to clear waivers to be sent down.

Alex Presley, the Pirates’ opening-day left fielder and leadoff hitter last season, was optioned to Indianapolis. Presley hit .304 in spring training but has one option remaining. The Pirates kept outfielder Jose Tabata, who struggled last season but who is out of options.

Infielder Jordy Mercer was optioned to Indianapolis, and relievers Mike Zagurski and Vin Mazzaro were reassigned to the team’s minor league camp along with catchers Carlos Paulino and Lucas May, and outfielder Felix Pie.

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Utility infielder Josh Harrison would get the final bench spot if Brandon Inge’s injured shoulder keeps him from being able to start the season.

 

YANKEES: Pitcher Phil Hughes will join Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson on the disabled list for the start of the season.

Hughes is expected to miss his first turn through the rotation, which means that fifth starter candidates Ivan Nova and David Phelps are both likely to begin the season in the rotation.

The Yankees open at home Monday against Boston. Hughes is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game that same day.

 

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BLUE JAYS: Pitcher J.A. Happ and Toronto agreed to a $9.1 million, two-year contract that adds an additional $5.4 million and one season to the deal he reached in January.

 

RANGERS: Texas returned Rule 5 draft pick Coty Woods to Colorado and got first baseman Chris McGuiness back from Cleveland.

 

CUBS: Chicago claimed right-hander Guillermo Moscoso off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

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TIGERS: Outfielder Quintin Berry was optioned to Triple-A Toledo by Detroit, which said Don Kelly made the opening-day roster.

Berry was a contender for left field but was sidelined for much of spring by patellar tendinitis. He hit .258 in 94 games for the Tigers last season and led the team with 21 stolen bases.

His demotion leaves Andy Dirks and Matt Tuiasosopo as the Tigers’ left fielders.

 

ORIOLES: Jason Hammel is set to start Baltimore’s opener at Tampa Bay.

Hammel, who threw five innings in a minor league game Wednesday, is scheduled to start against the Rays’ David Price on Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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Hammel was 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA for the Orioles last season, and pitched Games 1 and 5 in the American League divisional series against New York.

He’ll be followed in the Orioles’ rotation by Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez.

Hammel missed much of the second half of last season after surgery on his right knee.

 

DIAMONDBACKS: Utility player Willie Bloomquist will start the season on the disabled list.

An MRI showed a grade 2 right oblique strain. There is no timetable for his return.

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• Arizona released Josh Booty, who had earned an invitation to the team’s spring training by winning a televised knuckleball competition among former college quarterbacks.

Booty has major league experience, playing 13 games for the Marlins from 1996-98. He played two seasons with the Portland Sea Dogs, 1997 and ’98. He also played quarterback at LSU.

 

METS: New York is hoping ailing Shaun Marcum is feeling well enough to start the sixth game of the season.

Marcum has not pitched in a spring-training game since March 16. He complained of neck discomfort during a bullpen session Monday and is taking anti-inflammatory medication.

 

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BREWERS: Infielder Yuniesky Betancourt agreed to a $900,000, one-year deal with Milwaukee, rejoining the team he helped to win the 2011 NL Central title.

 

PHILLIES-TIGERS: Cole Hamels had his final start of the spring for Philadelphia and pitched three scoreless innings, while Justin Verlander, who will start for Detroit in Minnesota on opening day, allowed an earned run in 52/3 innings in the Phllies’ 4-1 win at Lakeland, Fla.

 

GIANTS-DIAMONDBACKS: Brandon Belt hit his eighth spring home run and Madison Bumgarner threw five effective innings, and San Francisco wrapped up its spring training in Arizona with an 8-6 victory over the Diamondbacks at Scottsdale.

 

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MARINERS-DODGERS: Felix Hernandez allowed three runs in six innings in his last start of spring training, helping Seattle beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-7 at Peoria, Ariz.

Clayton Kershaw, also tuning up for opening day, pitched three innings, and gave up three runs and five hits. He faced only 15 batters for the Dodgers.

 

WHITE SOX-INDIANS: Daisuke Matsuzaka made his final Cactus League start of the spring, working 51/3 strong innings in Cleveland’s 5-4 loss to Chicago at Glendale, Ariz.

Matsuzaka, who allowed two runs on five hits, will report to Triple-A Columbus when the Indians break camp. He is working his way back to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.

 


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