PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have designated Trevor Cahill for assignment, a move that could send the struggling right-hander to the minors. Wholesale Vans For Sale . Cahill, acquired in a trade with Oakland in 2012, had lost his job in the rotation after a series of bad outings then struggled in a bullpen role. The team also placed third baseman Eric Chavez on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right knee. The Diamondbacks activated right-handed reliever J.J. Putz from the disabled list and recalled right-handed reliever Will Harris from Triple-A Reno. The Diamondbacks have 10 days to either trade Cahill, release him, outright him or option him to the minors. If they outright him, the pitcher would go on waivers and could be claimed by other teams. That and a trade are unlikely because Cahill is due to earn about $17 million in a contract that runs through next year, and Cahill seemed to be open to the idea of going to the minors, probably to Reno. "Our hope is to retain him," Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said. "We still think theres value there." Cahill , 1-6 with a 5.66 ERA, had his best years with Oakland. In 2010, he was 18-8 for the As with a 2.97 ERA. "After everything thats happened, I still believe I can come back and be a starter and help this team win," he said before Monday nights game against Houston. "I mean, theyve been nothing but supportive and I cant ask f or anything more." Manager Kirk Gibson noted that Cahill is only 26. "This games tough. Theres a lot of people that struggle," Gibson said, "and they have to find a way to get back to what they can be. Again, its a tough game, but I still believe in Trevor. I have confidence in him. Hes young. Hes got that going for him." Cahill was particularly aggravating to the Diamondbacks because at times he had spectacular stuff, but that didnt translate into success in games. "There are times when I come out of the pen and feel real good and starts when I feel really good, its just the starts that I dont feel sharp," he said. "Ive just got to figure out a way to kind of get through it and still help the team win." Towers said that Cahill is not suited for a bullpen role. "We think his best role is a starter," Towers said. "Thats what we traded for is a starter. ... Its tough to get a guy lengthened up to become a starter when hes pitching once every eight or nine days in relief." Asked if he regretted the trade, Towers said that he doesnt look back once a deal is made. "I still believe in the kid," he said. Cahill voiced confidence in the Diamondbacks front office. "Im sure theyll do right by me," he said. "They havent given me any indication they wouldnt. Im just going to do whatever is best for the team. I want to stay here but I want to get better and be the guy that I think I can be." Fake Jordan Shoes . The start of the seasons fifth and final major was delayed two hours due to heavy rain in the area. The tournament eventually began, but with water on the greens and the rain persisting, players were called back to the clubhouse less than an hour after the first group teed off. Cheap Balenciaga China . -- Masahiro Tanaka knows that first appearance in a spring training game for the New York Yankees will be scrutinized. NEW YORK -- Hard to imagine one day on the job was truly enough for new Mets hitting coach Lamar Johnson to make much of a difference. It only looked that way. Juan Lagares drove in two runs, Vic Black gave the bullpen a boost and New York finally managed some timely hits Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. "We were hoping wed have a good homestand," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Weve played well. We just havent hit and driven in the big runs. To have a game like tonight I thought was important." Daniel Murphy doubled twice and No. 8 batter Ruben Tejada reached base all four times up to help the Mets win for only the fourth time in 13 games. The victory came one day after batting coach Dave Hudgens was fired and replaced by Johnson, who had been New Yorks minor league hitting co-ordinator. Black (1-0) got four big outs in his first major league outing this season, and Jenrry Mejia pitched two innings for his fourth save. With a runner on, Curtis Granderson made an outstanding catch in the right-field corner for the second out of the ninth. Mejia then walked Andrew McCutchen and retired Mets nemesis Gaby Sanchez on a game-ending grounder. "We lined out multiple times. Some nights, thats just the way it is," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. Starling Marte hit a two-run single for the Pirates, hurt by four wild pitches in losing for the second time in seven games. With the score 2-all, Tejada drew his second walk to start the sixth. He advanced on two wild pitches by Jeanmar Gomez (0-2) and scored when Lagares flicked a single over a drawn-in infield. Murphy followed with an RBI double to make it 4-2. "Lagares had a great at-bat," Murphy said. "Got some timely hitting and I think some really good baserunning out there as well, too, so its a good win." Black struck out Sanchez with runners at the corners to end the seventh. Pittsburgh had first and third again in the eighth when Mejia got pinch-hitter Pedro Alvarez to ground into an inning-ending double play. "Now Im ready for any situation," Mejia said. Handed a 2-0 lead, Mets starter Jonathon Niese let it slip away. Normally a fast worker, Niese slowed his pace considerably as he walked three batters in the sixth. Martes bases-loaded single tied it, but Black struck out pinch-hitter Ike Davis with the bases loaded to end the inning. It was a matchup that pitted two players against their former teaams. Fake Nmd R1. Black was acquired from Pittsburgh last August, and the Mets traded Davis to the Pirates last month. Black was expected to be in the Mets bullpen at the start of the season, but was shipped to the minors after a rough spring. The right-hander got called up as the roster addition for Sundays doubleheader against Arizona, then sent back down immediately after the games. He went to meet Triple-A Las Vegas in El Paso, Texas, but quickly turned around when the Mets recalled him late Monday to replace reliever Jose Valverde, who was released. Functioning on little sleep, Black took an early flight back to New York on Tuesday and showed up at the ballpark ready to pitch. "Vic got out of it for me and he did a great job," Niese said. "The way it started off, I felt like I could go seven or eight today, kind of save the bullpen. Thats why I was angry with the sixth." Pirates starter Edinson Volquez walked five and threw two wild pitches in five innings, extending his struggles on the road. "Thats what youre supposed to do, keep the game close. But I know walks killed me tonight," Volquez said. Murphy doubled in the third and scored on Bobby Abreus two-out single. Tejada and Lagares both doubled off the wall in left field in the fourth to make it 2-0. Lagares made a leaping catch of McCutchens drive at the 390-foot sign in right-centre to end the first inning. McCutchen returned the favour with a spectacular, diving grab to rob Lagares of extra bases in the third. "They kind of traded them, didnt they?" Hurdle said. "We just couldnt find gaps. Good plays by the centre fielders, as good as youre going to see." NOTES: Hurdle said hes looking to get a day off soon for 2B Neil Walker, who has started all 51 games this season. ... After a setback Sunday, Mets RHP Dillon Gee (strained lat) is headed to the teams complex in Florida to continue his rehabilitation. He said it will probably be a few days before he tries to get on the mound again. "Were going to go with the slow-and-steady approach this time," he said. ... Mets C Travis dArnaud (concussion) went 0 for 1 with a walk in a rehab game for Double-A Binghamton. He was scheduled to catch seven innings, but the game was suspended after two innings because of rain. As long as he got his work in and felt OK, dArnaud was expected to be activated Wednesday or Thursday. ... Rap star 50 Cent was comically off target with the ceremonial first pitch. ' ' '