The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Pirates have designated catcher Robinzon Diaz for assignment. Diaz played in 41 games for the team last season.

Our View: Diaz was in an unfortunate situation in Pittsburgh, as he was behind Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo on the depth chart, and out of minor league options. He filled in admirably while both catchers were down last season, as he hit .279 with 19 RBI in 129 at-bats.

Jason Jaramillo led the way for the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in the Pirates' 4-0 shutout of the Cubs. Jaramillo went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI in the win.

Our View: Jaramillo has seen his playing time significantly decrease since the return of Ryan Doumit, but he came up with a big hit today. Doumit figures to be the starter again next season, but Jaramillo showed he can play at this level effectively.

According to Jenifer Langosch on Twitter, catcher Ryan Doumit is not in Wednesday's lineup due to a stiff back.

Our View: The injury is not considered serious and Doumit should be fine with an extra day of rest. Jason Jaramillo gets the start behind the plate for the third time in four games.

Pearce is finally starting to come into his own now that he's locked down the starting gig at first base for the Pirates in the wake of Adam LaRoche's departure. The 26-year-old thumper is 6-for-14 with a home run, three doubles and four ribbies over his past four contests. Considering that he slugged at a .506 rate before getting the call this season and went deep 31 times on the farm in '07, Pearce could be a sneaky source of power over the last month.

News: Pittsburgh OF Steve Pearce smacked his 3rd home run in the 6th inning of Tuesday's win over the Phillies. Pearce finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBI as his homer was a two-run blast. He added a single and is batting .223 on the season.

Analysis: Pearce plays most days for the Pirates but hasn't done much yet this season. Don't worry about him outside of deeper NL-only formats

Steve Pearce went 2-for-4 with a steal on Saturday, but it wasn't nearly enough, as the Pirates lost 3-1 in Chicago.

Our View: Pearce's two hits raised his average from .217 to .233. He's worth monitoring in NL-only formats.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that new Pirate second baseman Akinori Iwamura said in a conference call on Tuesday that he would be interested in exploring a long-term deal with the team. Iwamura played in only 69 games last season due to a knee injury.

Our View: Iwamura sounded excited to be with the Pirates, but what else is he going to say? He was in a great situation in Tampa, and now he is with a perennial loser in the Pirates. He should be in line for a bounce back season, however, playing in the National League.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates 2B Akinori Iwamura said he's interested in exploring a long-term deal with the team.

After trading away Freddy Sanchez in July, the Pirates were left with no strong internal replacements at second base. With Iwamura in tow, the Pirates now have their immediate answer. Delwyn Young got his chance to be the team's everyday second baseman for the final two months, but even after intensive daily defensive work with infield coach Perry Hill, Young was not seen as the optimal choice for next season. Iwamura was limited to only 69 games in '09 and needed left knee surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. Huntington said that the Pirates have not independently examined Iwamura's knee, but that all the medical reports suggest that there will be no lingering issues. His departure from Tampa Bay enables Ben Zobrist or Reid Brignac to move to second base on a full-time basis.

Jenifer Langosch, of MLB.com, reports Pittsburgh Pirates IF Luis Cruz will play winter ball in Mexico and 3B Ramon Vazquez will play in Puerto Rico this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates C Ryan Doumit was benched last week for throwing his helmet, which bounced up and hit SS Luis Cruz in the head.

Luis Cruz was struck in the head by a line drive during practice, but still started at shortstop in Friday's game at Milwaukee, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Our View: He went 0-for-3 at the plate, but looks to be fine. He has been filling in for the injured Ronny Cedeno, and Cruz was not going to miss Friday's game while trying to prove his worth to the club.

LaRoche will stay at third base following the acquisition of Aki Iwamura, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Spin: LaRoche spent the last month in the instructional league learning how to play second. Pedro Alvarez appears on a course to take over the hot corner in June next year, clouding LaRoche's future. Performance and injuries will likely dictate who plays at second and third base in 2010.Thu, Nov 5

Perry Hill stepped down from his post as Pirates infield coach Saturday and shared some criticisms of the club on his way out. Hill, who also served as the Bucs' in-game first base coach, believes the team was too aggressive on the trade market this season. After all, the Pirates shipped off three-fourths of their infield (Jack Wilson, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez). "The Pirates made their statement," Hill said. It was time for me to go. I won't be back with the Pirates next year."Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Perry Hill stepped down from his role as Pirates infield coach Saturday and shared some criticisms of the club on his way out. Hill, who also served as the Bucs' in-game first base coach, believes the team was too aggressive on the trade market this season. After all, the Pirates shipped off three-fourths of their infield (Jack Wilson, Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez). "The Pirates made their statement," Hill said. It was time for me to go. I won't be back with the Pirates next year."Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Cedeno (hamstrings), who sat out the last two weeks of the regular season, heads into the 2010 season as the default starter at shortstop for Pittsburgh.

Spin: Cedeno did an admirable job both offensively and defensively for the Pirates after coming over from Seattle. He suffered a broken right pinky in late August, however, and never really recovered. He should be fine for spring training. Cedeno hit 10 homers in 341 at-bats and could hit 15-20 dingers in a full season.Thu, Oct 15

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic reports Pittsburgh Pirates SS Ronny Cedeno was given a CD with a training regimen to strengthen his hamstrings in the offseason.

Jenifer Langosch, of MLB.com, reports Pittsburgh Pirates SS Ronny Cedeno (hamstring) is unlikely to play in the final three games of the season.

Milledge relayed on Wednesday that a hand injury that plagued him for the first couple months of the 2009 season hampered his power production, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Spin: Milledge says that his hand is feeling better now. "The hand was healed, but it took a while to start getting the strength back," he said. "A lot of it's back now, and it was coming back late in the season. They told me all along it was going to take about a full year for it to be all the way back, so that would be just in time for next season." Milledge looked like one of the Pirates' few major league caliber starters at season's end, finishing with a .291/.333/.395 line while improving his left field play. Even so, Milledge managed just four dingers in 244 official at-bats.Wed, Nov 11

Milledge relayed on Wednesday that a hand injury that plagued him for the first couple months of the 2009 season hampered his power production, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Spin: Milledge says that his hand is feeling better now. "The hand was healed, but it took a while to start getting the strength back," he said. "A lot of it's back now, and it was coming back late in the season. They told me all along it was going to take about a full year for it to be all the way back, so that would be just in time for next season." Milledge looked like one of the Pirates' few major league starters at season's end, finishing with a .291/.333/.395 line while improving his left field play. Even so, Milledge managed just four dingers in 244 official at-bats.Wed, Nov 11

Milledge relayed on Wednesday that a hand injury that plagued him for the first couple months of the 2009 season hampered his power production, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Spin: Milledge says that his hand is feeling better now. "The hand was healed, but it took a while to start getting the strength back," he said. "A lot of it's back now, and it was coming back late in the season. They told me all along it was going to take about a full year for it to be all the way back, so that would be just in time for next season." Milledged looked like one of the Pirates' few major league starters the last couple months of 2009, finishing with a .291/.333/.395 line while improving his left field play. Even so, Milledge managed just four dingers in 244 official at-bats.Wed, Nov 11

Sometime in 2009 it finally clicked in the collective Pirates brain that they needed to stop playing for now since they weren’t playing well for now anyway.  And with that kernel of “ah-ha,” the Pirates sent McLousy off the plank and ushered in Andrew McCutchen, The Dread Pirate.  The Dread Pirate proceeded to climb to [...]

According to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Pirates GM Neal Huntington will explore the mid-tier free agent market more aggressively this winter than in the past. Langosch writes that the Pirates are likely to pursue a corner outfielder and bullpen help, but Huntington plans to act with restraint before adding payroll. "We're not just going to go sign free agents because we have the money or because we want to make our fans or ourselves feel better," Huntington said. "We're going to sign the guys that we feel can help us and that we believe won't fall into that trap [of being washed up], but also for the right dollars and the right length and right fit. It may mean that we get shut out. It may mean that we get one. It may also mean that we get two or three guys that fall into that set of criteria. But the last thing we want to do is just sign free agents to assign money."Source: MLBlogs.com

Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports that general manager Neal Huntington will explore the mid-tier free agent market more aggressively this winter than in the past. Lanosch writes that the Pirates are likely to pursue a corner outfielder and bullpen help, but Huntington plans to act with restraint before adding payroll. "We're not just going to go sign free agents because we have the money or because we want to make our fans or ourselves feel better," Huntington said. "We're going to sign the guys that we feel can help us and that we believe won't fall into that trap [of being washed up], but also for the right dollars and the right length and right fit. It may mean that we get shut out. It may mean that we get one. It may also mean that we get two or three guys that fall into that set of criteria. But the last thing we want to do is just sign free agents to assign money."Source: MLBlogs.com

Pirates.MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch reports Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Garrett Jones hit .330 with the bases empty and was just 10-for-66 (.152) with runners in scoring position in 2009.

On July 1st, the following scrolled across the transaction wire:Pittsburgh Pirates purchased the contract of outfielder Garrett Jones from Indianapolis of the International League (AAA).Few, if any, in the baseball community so much as batted an eye. After all, Jones was a 28 year-old minor league slugger, a guy on the low end of the [...]

Jones hit his 21st homer and stole his 10th base of the season on Monday.

Spin: Jones went 2-for-5 to raise his season average to .305. With 295 official at-bats, Jones may have a tough time winning the NL rookie of the year award, but he's cemented a starting spot with the Bucs for 2010. Whether he plays in the outfield or first base likely depends upon what moves the team makes in the offseason.Mon, Sep 28

The Associated Press reports Pittsburgh Pirates SP Zach Duke walked five batters, one short of his career high, while losing for the fifth time with just one win in his last seven starts. Duke gave up six hits and five runs with two strikeouts in five innings Saturday, Oct. 3, in an 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Duke gave up five or more earned runs in three of his last five games to finish the year with a 4.06 ERA after he entered 29 of his 32 starts with an ERA below 4.00. The 11-16 record isn't enticing but his 1.31 WHIP is an indication that he pitched better than his record and ERA suggest.

News: Pittsburgh SP Zach Duke was beat up on Saturday in his final start of the season against the Reds. He lasted five innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked five as his ERA went up to 4.06 on the season.

Analysis: Duke finished out the season dropping five of his last six decisions over a seven-start period. He pitched rather well this season but struggled to win on a consistent basis as the Pirates' offense and bullpen left much to be desired. Duke will again be more on an NL-only Fantasy SP looking ahead to next season

Baseball writer John Perrotto is reporting on Twitter that Pirates pitcher Ross Ohlendorf finished the season two days short of earning his Super-2 arbitration status. Ohlendorf has is at two years and 139 days of service, and the Super-2 cutoff was at two years and 141 days.

Our View: Tough break for Ohlendorf, as he will now have to wait another full season befor becoming arbitration eligible. It has to be disappointing to miss the cutoff by two days, but he will be able to make it for one more season.

News: From The Sports Xchange notes: RHP Ross Ohlendorf will not pitch again this season after working 176 2/3 innings in 29 starts in his first full year as a major league starter. That is an increase of 35 innings over last season, and the Pirates fear he will risk injury if he pitches anymore. Ohlendorf finishes the season 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA. The Pirates will likely go back to a five-man rotation for the final two weeks of the season, though there is a possibility RHP Eric Hacker, RHP Jeff Karstens and RHP Virgil Vasquez could get spot starts.

Analysis: Ohlendorf is useful in deeper keeper leagues, perhaps, but he fact he pitches for the Pirates makes him a lower-end option at this point. Otherwise, cut and ignore him down the stretch

The Pirates have officially shut down Ohlendorf for the season, according to GM Neal Huntington, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Spin:

Morton hurled a complete-game shutout against the Cubs on Wednesday, striking out eight batters in a 4-0 win.

Spin: The righty, who gave up just four hits and three walks, had all four of his pitches working. Few could have predicted the outing, especially after he allowed 10 runs in one inning the last time he pitched in Wrigley Field. Morton's now had three straight decent starts and likely has a leg up on the competition for the team's No. 4 pitching spot in the 2010 rotation.Thu, Oct 1

News: Drawing on his previous Wrigley Field experience, Charlie Morton knew exactly what not to do. Don't fall behind batters, don't pitch timidly, don't panic. And this time, he didn't. Seven weeks after getting lit up for 10 runs by the Cubs, Morton pitched a four-hitter as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated Chicago 4-0 Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. "I try not to put so much emphasis on one game," he said of his performance in the 17-2 loss on Aug. 14. "But it's a big step in the sense that, yeah, I came here and gave up 10 runs in an inning. "This time ... I was throwing pretty much everything for strikes, more than I have been. Just being more aggressive with my pitches." Morton (5-9), a 25-year-old right-hander who hadn't pitched more than seven innings in a game, also set a career high with eight strikeouts. Acquired in the June 3 trade that sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta, he walked three and hit two batters.

Analysis: Morton certainly struggled this season and he still only won three of his final 10 decisions. Of course, he was pitching for one of the worst teams in baseball. He'll be a sleeper next season for the Pirates as a young starter hoping to build on a solid finale

Charlie Morton notched his first career complete-game shutout Wednesday in the first game of the doubleheader against the Cubs. A modest change from his previous start against the Cubs. In that one, he was charged with 10 runs in one-plus innings as part of a 17-2 loss on Aug. 14. Morton's season is over at 5-9 with a 4.55 ERA. A strong finish that saw him allowed eight runs over his final 29 innings will put him in better position when he competes for a rotation spot next spring.

Veal was named the Arizona Fall League pitcher of the week, going 1-0 and throwing seven shutout innings in two starts.

Spin: He struck out seven and walked just two hitters, a positive sign for the control-challenged Veal. The 25-year-old lefty walked 20 in 16.1 innings for the Bucs in 2009 and will need to establish better command to make a major-league impact.Tue, Nov 3

Adam McCalvy, of MLB.com, reports Pittsburgh Pirates SP Donnie Veal was named the Arizona Fall League Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Sunday, Nov. 1. He did not allow a run in two starts during the week, giving up only five hits to go along with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. Veal leads starters in the AFL with a 0.71 ERA and is tied for the league lead in wins with two.

MLB.com's Josh Jackson reports Pittsburgh Pirates SP Donnie Veal allowed two hits and struck out five over four shutout innings Saturday, Oct. 31, in the Arizona Fall League. He's now 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA.

With a 1.72 ERA in 33 games for Pittsburgh, Hanrahan heads into the 2010 campaign with a chance of expanding his bullpen role.

Spin: Matt Capps is still the closer, but a bad final month might have finally shaken his foundation as the team's default stopper. Hanrahan battled an elbow issue -- he pitched only two times after Sept. 15 -- but his sharp-biting slider gives the Bucs hope for a strong 2010.Thu, Oct 15

Joel Hanrahan returned to action on Sunday September 27.

News: Pirates RP Joel Hanrahan (elbow) pitched for the first time since Sept. 15 on Sunday against the Dodgers. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning. He has not allowed an earned run in 14 outings.

Analysis: Hanrahan was pretty bad with the Nationals earlier this season, but he has worked on getting better since joining the Pirates in July. His hard work is finally starting to show through, but Hanrahan is nothing more than a middle reliever for the deepest of NL-only leagues that use true middle men at this point

Command has dogged Jackson this season, but he appears to be figuring things as he carves out a niche for himself in the Pirates bullpen.

Jackson was recalled by the Pirates on Wednesday, MLB.com's Jen Langosch reports.

Spin: Things haven't clicked for him in limited big league duty this season, but Jackson will get an opportunity to work his way into the mix and audition for 2010 bullpen gig at least while Evan Meek is on the 15-day DL with an oblique injury.Wed, Aug 12

Jenifer Langosch, of MLB.com, reports the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled P Steven Jackson from Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, Aug. 12.

According to The Associated Press, Pittsburgh Pirates RP Anthony Claggett pitched the eighth inning Saturday, Oct. 3, against the Cincinnati Reds. He became the 49th different player and 26th pitcher to play for Pittsburgh this season, tying franchise records for players and pitchers used in a season. The Pirates used 49 players in 1987 and 2001 and 26 pitchers last season.

CBSSports.com reports the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled P Anthony Claggett from the minors Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Claggett was added to the roster on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Spin: He'll be available out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.Tue, Sep 29

CBSSports.com reports the Pittsburgh Pirates activated RPs Evan Meek (oblique) and Jose Ascanio (shoulder) from the 60-day disabled list Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Meek (oblique) pronounced himself 100 percent healthy, though he remains listed on the 60-day disabled list, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Spin: It's hard to envision the Pirates entering the 2010 season with Matt Capps secure in his closer's spot, meaning that Meek and Joel Hanrahan both have chances to take away some late-inning time from Capps. Meek, who didn't pitch after Aug. 11 because of injury, compiled a 3.45 ERA and 1.34 WHIP to go along with an impressive .209 BAA.Wed, Nov 11

Meek (oblique) pronounced himself 100 percent healthy, though he remains listed on the 60-day disabled list, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Spin: It's hard to envision the Pirates entering the 2010 season with Matt Capps secure in his closer's spot, meaning that Meek and Joel Hanrahan both have chances to take away some late-inning time from Capps. Meek, who didn't pitch after Aug. 11 because of injury, compiled a 3.45 ERA and 1.34 WHIP to go along with an impressive .209 OBA.Wed, Nov 11