The Major League Baseball Players Association has announced that Javier Vazquez has been hired to be a special assistant to executive director Tony Clark, specializing in the rights of international players.

The role will include the support of international players in the Union as well as working with Major League Baseball International to help grow the game.

Vazquez was involved with the Union while he was a player, serving as a player rep beginning in 2002.

At no point this season have the Boston Red Sox re-opened talks with Stephen Drew, according to a Major League source.

Some interest during the month of April would make sense. Will Middlebrooks missed three weeks with a Grade 1 calf strain and Xander Bogaerts has experienced some defensive missteps.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired Lucas Harrell from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later and cash.

Harrell was designated for assignment on April 16 after opening the season 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA.

He cleared waivers on April 22 and was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

During contract negotiations Mike Trout's agent, Craig Landis, has repeatedly mentioned that his client will hit for more power as he matures, according to the Los Angeles Angels.

Jerry Dipoto doesn't disagree.

"Why on earth would we think that we've seen the height of his power production at age 20-21?" he said.

Trout hit 30 and 27 home runs in his first two full seasons, respectively, and is on pace for 27 in 2014.

Starting pitchers had a historic day Sunday throughout major league baseball.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, a record 10 pitchers, one third of all of Sunday's starters, threw at least seven innings while allowing three or fewer hits.

Adam Wainwright became the first pitcher to five wins this year as the Cardinals blanked the Pirates, according to an ESPN.com report. 

Jose Abreu drove in four runs and set a major league rookie record for RBIs through the end of April and the White Sox beat the Rays 9-2 on Sunday, according to an ESPN.com report.

Abreu, who had a two-run home run in the sixth and a two-run single in the seventh, has 31 RBIs to lead the majors. Albert Pujols had the previous rookie RBI mark of 27 in 2001.

MLB has now been dragged into the Donald Sterling fiasco in the form of Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, according to an ESPN.com report.

Sterling, the owner of the NBA's Clippers, is under fire for racist comments he made to girlfriend V. Stiviano, who is Mexican and black. That tape was released to TMZ.com, but a different part of the tape not previously released was leaked to Deadspin.com and that version makes mention of Kemp.

Kemp was stunned to see his name mentioned with Sterling's when he woke up Sunday morning.

"I was shocked," Kemp said. "I was really shocked. I haven't been to a basketball game since maybe last year, and I did take my mom. I met the young lady, I've known her through mutual people. We all sat in the same [area].

"I remember taking the picture, but I didn't think it would ever come to this. This is crazy."

Clayton Kershaw will make one more rehab start before returning to the Dodgers, and the left-hander didn't hide his feelings as he voiced his displeasure at the move Sunday.

Kershaw, who has lobbied to come off the disabled list this week, instead will start Wednesday for Class AA Chattanooga. He was placed on the DL with inflammation in his back after his Opening Day start in Australia last month.

Matt Garza had some advice for Jeff Samardzia, saying his former teammate needs to "pitch your way out of there" if he doesn't want to stay with the Cubs.

Garza spent parts of three seasons with the Cubs before being traded to the Rangers last season. 

"All I can tell him is keep pitching -- pitch your way out of it," Garza, who signed with the Brewers this offseason, told reporters. "Keep your eyes focused, your eyes straight ahead and just pitch. There's nothing else you can do."

Outfielder Bryce Harper was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Nationals on Sunday with a sprained left thumb. The move is retroactive to Saturday. 

Harper hurt his hand with a head-first slide into third base Friday night after hitting a third-inning, bases-loaded triple in Washington's victory. He stayed in the game for an inning before he was replaced.