News briefs: Reds send outfielders Jones, Hopper to minors
CBSSports.com wire reports
SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Cincinnati Reds got down to 33 players by sending outfielders Jacque Jones and Norris Hopper and right-hander Daryl Thompson to the minors.
The 33-year-old Jones signed with the Reds on Feb. 5, getting a chance to win a reserve spot. He went only 4-for-45 (.089) in spring training, and was reassigned to the minor league camp Monday.
The Reds optioned Hopper and Thompson to Triple-A Louisville. Hopper batted .132 this spring, costing him a shot at a reserve role. The 23-year-old Thompson jumped from Class A to Triple-A last season. The Reds want him to get more experience in the minors.
Pirates option outfielder McCutchen
BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have sent center fielder Andrew McCutchen to minor league camp and optioned infielder Brian Bixler to Triple-A Indianapolis.
The 22-year-old McCutchen is one of the team's top prospects and was a first-round draft pick in 2005. This spring, he batted .318 with two home runs, seven RBI, two stolen bases and a team-best 12 walks.
General manager Neal Huntington said he expects both McCutchen and Bixler will play for the Pirates at some point this season.
Bixler will be Indianapolis' starting shortstop, and will get some playing time at second base.
Braves send Anderson to Tigers
VIERA, Fla. -- Atlanta traded Josh Anderson to the Detroit Tigers, increasing the chances that rookie Jordan Schafer will open the season as the Braves' center fielder.
Schafer, who is hitting .373 this spring, appears to have the edge over Gregor Blanco, who was away from the team most of spring training while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
"The center-field job is still open," Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said. "It will be hard to keep two. We knew we couldn't keep all three."
In exchange for Anderson, who was out of options, the Braves received minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow. The side-arming reliever will be assigned to Double-A Mississippi. The 25-year-old right-hander split time between Class A West Michigan and Double-A Erie last season, going 5-3 with 10 saves and a 2.02 ERA.
Rockies send three to Triple-A
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Colorado Rockies have optioned outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Murton and left-handed pitcher Greg Smith to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
The Rockies also reassigned catchers Edwin Bellorin and Paul Phillips and left-handed pitcher Randy Flores to their minor league camp.
The Rockies now have 34 players on their major league spring training roster, including eight non-roster invitees.
Rays cut former All-Star Ensberg
FT. MYERS, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays released former All-Star Morgan Ensberg.
The infielder agreed to a minor league deal with the Rays in February. He hit .227 with four RBI this spring.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said he appreciated Ensberg's efforts, but Tampa didn't have a place for him with the Triple-A club.
Ensberg, and All-Star with Houston in 2005, appeared in 28 games for the New York Yankees last season, batting .203 with one homer and four RBI. He spent parts of the previous six seasons with the Astros and San Diego Padres, and is a career .263 hitter with 110 home runs.
Padres' Baek might miss start of season
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cha Seung Baek will miss his final Cactus League start and possibly the start of the season for the San Diego Padres because of a strained right forearm.
Baek left a start Sunday after four innings, complaining of soreness. The Padres are uncertain if the right-hander will be put on the disabled list.
Baek is 2-4 with a 9.27 ERA in seven starts this spring. Kevin Correia, who started for San Diego on Monday, is likely to take Baek's rotation spot should the injury linger into the season.
Dodgers sign Ohman to one-year deal
LOS ANGELES -- Reliever Will Ohman and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a one-year minor league contract
With two minor leaguers in camp being considered for the situational left-hander role, the Dodgers decided instead to go for experience.
Ohman has plenty.
The southpaw is 10-9 in 303 career games with a 4.16 ERA. He played for the Atlanta Braves in 2008, finishing 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 83 games. Before that, he was with the Chicago Cubs for more than six seasons.
