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Archer has strong outing for Pirates

From Mirror, wire reports

SARASOTA, Fla. — Chris Archer started and struck out four of the seven batters he faced over two shutout innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles, 10-4, Tuesday in grapefruit league action.

The Pirates (5-5-1) trailed 2-1 before scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Josh Bell highlighted the inning with his first homer of the spring, a three-run shot off Mychal Givens.

J.B. Shuck also homered for the Pirates, giving him two in the last four games. He has also reached base safely in five of the last six games. Adam Frazier went 1-for-3 with a run-scoring double in his first game of the spring.

The Pirates’ Steven Brault was touched up for two runs on five hits in two innings of work, while Michael Feliz gave up two runs in one inning.

Kevin Kramer added a solo home run for the Pirates while teammate Ke’Bryan Hayes added a run-scoring triple, giving up seven hits in 14 at-bats this spring.

Pittsburgh is slated to play the Red Sox today at 1:05 p.m. Nick Kingham is expected to start with Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez, Tyler Lyons, Dovydas Neverauskas and Jesus Liranzo scheduled to pitch as well.

Trout fishing?

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Now pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper.

The new Phillies slugger has again lobbied for superstar Mike Trout to join the franchise in 2021, a possible violation of Major League Baseball’s tampering rule.

Trout, a two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels, grew up near Philadelphia, attended the Phillies victory parade in 2008 as a 17-year-old and has season tickets for the Eagles. The 27-year-old outfielder is set to become a free agent after the 2020 season.

“If you don’t think I’m gonna call Mike Trout to come to Philly in 2020, you’re crazy,” Harper told SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The Phillies gave Harper a 13-year contract last week, the largest deal in baseball history at $330 million. Harper told team owner John Middleton he’s willing to help the team recruit free agents and sell them on playing for a winner in Philadelphia.

Fishing for Trout, sort of.

“For me, I can be able to talk to Trout, or whoever it is, big-name free agent or whoever wants to come to Philly or is thinking about coming to Philly, I can say ‘Hey, this is the place to be. This is where the fans are great, ownership understands it, our manager is awesome,'” Harper said. “I can really put that faith in myself in being able to say we are able to go about it the right way, we are the Philadelphia Phillies and we want whoever wants to come to Philly.”

“If you don’t want to come to Philly, then don’t come. Don’t be part of it. But if you want to come be part of a winning team and a winning culture, then we are going to need the best players to do that. I don’t think John is scared to go out and get the best guys we need to have,” he said.

MLB has not yet said whether it will look into Harper’s remarks.

Rule 3(k) says: “To preserve discipline and competition, and to prevent the enticement of players, coaches, managers and umpires, there shall be no negotiations or dealings respecting employment, either present or prospective, between any player, coach or manager and any Major or Minor League Club other than the Club with which the player is under contract.”

Perez already done

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire 2019 season.

The decision was made after Perez received a second opinion Tuesday from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ team physician. Perez hurt the elbow during a workout last week and said over the weekend that he was harboring a slim hope that he might be able to play through it.

Perez hit just .235 last season, but he had 27 homers and drove in 80 runs while providing a solid and calming presence behind the plate. The MVP of the 2015 World Series, Perez was being counted upon to help the rebuilding Royals take the steps necessary to return to the playoffs, particularly when it came to their young but promising starting rotation.

Two jobs at once

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jessica Mendoza has been hired as a baseball operations adviser for the New York Mets while remaining a broadcaster for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” The move is part of an increasing number of television commentators who also work for teams.

The Mets said Tuesday she will be involved in player evaluation, roster construction, technological advancement and health and performance.

Mendoza, a member of the U.S. Olympic softball team in 2004 and 2008, did not address any potential conflict of interest — working for a team while simultaneously commentating on all clubs. Before Sunday night games, managers routinely give private briefings to the ESPN broadcasters.

New York’s statement quoted Mendoza as saying she will try to “balance both tasks while moving forward.”

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