Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó Atlanta traded Josh Anderson to Detroit on Monday, 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.
“He’s a prospect, absolutely,” Wren said. “We feel good about getting an arm like that.”
Wren said he began exploring trade options for Anderson after it was determined he was behind Schafer and Blanco in the center-field competition.
Schafer, 22, played at Mississippi last year, hitting .269. He was suspended 50 games for violating the minor league drug policy.
RED SOX
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó John Smoltz was back in the Braves’ clubhouse Monday, visiting his old team before heading off for a round of golf with Tiger Woods.
Smoltz signed with Boston in January, ending his 20-year tenure with the Braves. The right-hander is targeting a June return to the mound after shoulder surgery.
“It was good to see everybody,” Smoltz said before Boston’s spring game against Atlanta. “It was different. There are a lot of memories. … You miss it. But it’s time to move on.”
Braves manager Bobby Cox said the clubhouse hasn’t been nearly as loud this spring without Smoltz.
“You always heard him,” Cox said. “(But) players move up.”
METS
PORT ST. LUCIE ó Oliver Perez had his most encouraging outing of spring training, allowing four hits and one run in 62/3 innings as the New York Mets beat Baltimore 2-1 on Monday night in a spring training game.
The Mets got another strong outing from the bullpen with J.J. Putz throwing 11/3 innings of scoreless relief, followed by East Rowan graduate Bobby Parnell, who got the save and lowered his spring ERA to 2.19.
Parnell struck out one batter, walked one and allowed no hits in one inning of work.
YANKEES
TAMPA, Fla. ó Joba Chamberlain needs to show Yankees manager Joe Girardi two things in his next-to-last spring training start for it to be considered a success.
“Efficency and location,” Girardi said. “I’d like to get six innings if we could.”
Chamberlain, the Yankees’ No. 5 starter, is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA in five major league spring training starts. However, the right-hander has pitched just 14 2-3 innings during the stretch, with a long of 4 1-3 innings.
“The overall performance is what I really want to look at,” Girardi said.
Chamberlain’s last scheduled preseason start is in a minor league intrasquad game Sunday in Florida.
RANGERS
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ó Rangers manager Ron Washington said the competition between outfielders Andruw Jones and Frank Catalanotto for Texas’ lone position opening may not be settled by the time the team breaks camp Thursday.
Jones hit a home run in Texas’ 7-5 victory over San Francisco on Monday and is batting .288 with two homers and five RBIs this spring. Catalanotto is hitting .333 with one homer and six RBIs.
REDS
SARASOTA, Fla. ó No guitar strumming for Bronson Arroyo these days. No autograph signing, either. Pitching? He’s still doing that, but the results weren’t good the last couple times out.
His right hand has become a worry.
The Reds’ musically inclined pitcher is having a flare-up of the carpal tunnel syndrome that has bothered him from time to time over the last few years. This bout is especially nasty, along with the timing. The season starts in less than one week.
* Cincinnati got down to 33 players by sending outfielders Jacque Jones and Norris Hopper and right-hander Daryl Thompson to the minors.
ATHLETICS
NEW YORK ó Frustrated at Oakland’s inability to get a new ballpark, baseball commissioner Bud Selig has appointed a committee to analyze the team’s hopes of obtaining a stadium in its current territory.
His announcement follows the team’s February decision to scrap plans for a ballpark in Fremont.
BREWERS
PHOENIX ó Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman (strained oblique) was put on the 15-day disabled list, ruling him out for the start of the season. The most likely player to step in at closer is Carlos Villanueva.
PIRATES
BRADENTON, Fla. ó Pittsburgh has sent center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who batted .318 with two home runs, seven RBIs, two stolen bases and a team-best 12 walks this spring, to minor league camp.
The 22-year-old McCutchen is one of the team’s top prospects and was a first-round draft pick in 2005.
ROCKIES
TUCSON, Ariz. ó Colorado has optioned outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Murton and left-handed pitcher Greg Smith to the minors.
RAYS
FT. MYERS, Fla. ó Tampa Bay released former All-Star Morgan Ensberg, who had agreed to a minor league deal in February. He hit .227 with four RBIs this spring.
INDIANS
GOODYEAR, Ariz. ó Zach Jackson will open the season as the final pitcher on Cleveland’s staff.
Jackson began spring training in a competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but manager Eric Wedge liked the way the 25-year-old worked in relief.
* Cleveland placed David Dellucci on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained left calf.
PADRES
GOODYEAR, Ariz. ó Cha Seung Baek will miss his final Cactus League start and possibly the start of the season because of a strained right forearm.
DODGERS
LOS ANGELES ó Reliever Will Ohman agreed to a one-year minor league contract.
ARREST
SARASOTA, Fla. ó Jail records show Reds minor league pitching coach Tom Browning has been charged with nonpayment of child support.