PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander Chris Archer and two other young pitchers to Class AAA Durham on Tuesday.
Archer started four of six games he appeared in last season – going 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA – and was competing in spring training with Roberto Hernandez and Jeff Niemann for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Left-hander Alex Torres and right-hander Jake Odorizzi also were optioned to the Bulls. Odorizzi was one of four minor league prospects the Rays obtained from Kansas City in a trade that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals this winter.
• The Rays selected AL Cy Young Award winner David Price as their opening-day starter. He went 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA in 31 starts in last year.
Miami Times rejects MLB request
MIAMI The Miami New Times has rejected a request from Major League Baseball for records that the alternative newspaper obtained for a story that alleges several players received performance-enhancing drugs from a now-closed anti-aging clinic.
New Times editor Chuck Strouse’s response to Commissioner Bud Selig appeared on the paper’s website Tuesday.
Strouse cited journalistic ethics and the fact that the newspaper already has posted dozens of records on its website, omitting personal information of people who weren’t involved in wrongdoing.
The newspaper reported during January that six professional baseball players, including Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs in 2009-12 from Biogenesis of America LLC. The defunct anti-aging clinic in Coral Cables was operated by Anthony Bosch. Rodriguez has denied the allegations.
Elsewhere
Atlanta: Julio Teheran took another step toward winning the fifth spot in the rotation, striking out six over five hitless innings and lowering his spring ERA to 1.29 during a 12-3 victory over St. Louis. He has allowed four hits in 14 innings over four starts and has 18 strikeouts.
Baltimore: Nick Markakis has been diagnosed with a small herniated disk in his neck and will be out about another week. Manager Buck Showalter said Markakis has returned to Baltimore to see a spine specialist. The right fielder had surgeries on his abdomen, right hand and left thumb last year.
Boston: Stephen Drew, who has had post-concussion symptoms since being hit in the helmet by a pitch Thursday, has still not been cleared to play.
Houston: Phil Humber gave up one hit and struck out three while pitching the final five innings against Miami to lower his spring ERA to 1.29.
Miami: Kevin Kouzmanoff had his second straight two-hit day to improve his spring average to .400. He is trying to earn a spot as a right-handed pinch-hitter. “He’s done a nice job,” manager Mike Redmond said. “Every time he has gotten in there, he has contributed.”
Minnesota: Minor league pitcher Deolis Guerra has been moved to intensive care at a hospital in Fort Myers, Fla., because of a blood clot in his pitching shoulder. The team said Guerra was feeling some numbness in the shoulder area while in Puerto Rico recently for the Venezuelan World Baseball Classic.
New York Yankees: After two games as the designated hitter, Derek Jeter said he will play shortstop Wednesday night against Philadelphia, marking the first time in the field for him since ankle surgery last fall.
Oakland: Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector, has rejoined the team after briefly leaving camp to be reunited in Miami with his family for the first time in about a year. … After a strong season with Baltimore’s Class AAA affiliate in Norfolk, Va., and 24 appearances for the A’s during 2012, right-hander Pat Neshek has not allowed a run in his five spring appearances.
Philadelphia: Left-hander Raul Valdes threw three scoreless innings against Detroit, helping his bid to fill a spot in the bullpen.
Texas: Jeff Baker has a seven-game spring hitting streak, going 12-for-15 (.800).
Toronto: Third baseman Brett Lawrie, who strained his rib cage while with Team Canada, is expected to be ready for opening day. … Right-hander Kyle Drabek, who had Tommy John surgery during June for the second time, is to begin throwing from a mound this week.
