Javier Mascherano and Neymar following the Catalans Champions League

WASHINGTON -- Struggling Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Jonathon Niese will try to get on track in the bullpen after being removed from the starting rotation.Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced the decision to demote Niese to the bullpen on Friday before the team opened a three-game series at the Washington Nationals. Niese is 7-6 with a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts this season after Pittsburgh acquired him from the New York Mets for second baseman Neil Walker.We felt at this time to get him unplugged, to get a different look might help him moving forward, Hurdle said. We told him this wasnt a banishment out of the rotation for good. Were just unplugging him, putting him in the bullpen for right now, see where that can take us.Niese has allowed 20 home runs, struck out 71 and walked 36 in 101 2/3 innings. The groundball pitcher allowed 20 home runs all last season and is two away from tying a career high.The 29-year-old said he understood the decision but didnt expect it.Id rather start obviously. Its where my hearts at, Niese said. I knew the rotation was getting pretty crowded. ... I knew something was going to happen. I was certainly hoping it wasnt me to get bumped. It is what it is. I understand the results werent there in the first half.During a radio appearance Friday morning, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in hindsight that taking two fringe prospects from the Mets might have been a better return for Walker than Niese, who has not worked out as planned.Given the thinness of the starting pitching market, given the dollars that we had available, we felt that that was our best return and it has not played out that way and thats a challenge, Huntington said on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh. We own that. We accept that.Huntington said that based on the Pirates young pitchers hed potentially be interested in trading a veteran, which could mean Niese, fellow lefty Jeff Locke or both.One of those young pitchers is ready to return as Gerrit Cole will be active off the disabled list to start Saturday. Cole had been out with a strained right triceps muscle.The 25-year-old righty doesnt know if there will be any limitations on him in his first start back.Im just excited to not sit on the sidelines all of the time, Cole said. Im sure theyll take it inning by inning. See how the game is unfolding.Chad Kuhl is lined up to pitch Sunday, and Huntington said top prospect Jameson Taillon could get another start during next weeks series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Cheap Braves Jerseys China . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Cheap Chipper Jones Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. http://www.cheapbravesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-bobby-cox-jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Cheap Bob Uecker Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Cheap Deion Sanders Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July.Sky Sports Spanish football expert Guillem Balague takes a look at the big stories making headlines in Spain this week. With the season coming to a close across Europe, there are plenty of transfer rumours in the press, including strong links between Cristiano Ronaldo and PSG.Chelseas Diego Costa is also being talked about with a potential move back to Atletico Madrid, with Diego Simeone identifying three players he wants to bring to the club next season. Staying at the Vicente Calderon, Fernando Torres has said he is in talks with the club to extend his contract, whille there is analysis of Luis Suarez contribution this season as Barcelona sit on the verge of the La Liga title.ddddddddddddLooking across AS, Sport, Marca and more, Balague discusses the other big talking points, including a reported bust-up between Javier Mascherano and Neymar following the Catalans Champions League exit.Hit play