BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned right-hander reliever Josh Sharpless and catcher Carlos Maldonado to their minor league camp Thursday.

Sharpless, a native of suburban Pittsburgh, is 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA in 20 career appearances. He had a 12.46 ERA in six games last season.

Maldonado had a .163 average in 43 at-bats the last two seasons. He hit .208 with two homers, four RBIs and eight strikeouts in 24 at-bats last season.

The moves left 63 players in camp.

PHILADELPHIA — Takeo Spikes got TKO'd by the Philadelphia Eagles.The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker was released on Thursday, the second high-profile player cut by the Eagles in a week.Defensive end Jevon Kearse was let go Feb. 28 after playing four seasons in Philadelphia. Releasing Spikes saves the Eagles $5 million under the salary cap.The 31-year-old Spikes was acquired in a trade with Buffalo last March.