Limited Options
Pirates' Trade Cupboard Almost Bare
By John E. Sacco

The position Pirates' General Manager Dave Littlefield finds himself in this month is not unusual or completely unexpected.

Littlefield understood better than anyone his signing of a number of older, veteran type players to one-year contracts was to not only bolster the Pirates' chances of reaching the .500 mark this season but to also bridge the gap between the organization's current plight and its future.

With the July 31 trading deadline (without waivers) approaching, Littlefield will likely find himself selling off pieces of the Pirates' team to grab a prospect or two and possibly a marginal to above average major league player to again bridge the gap to the future.

For the Pirates to ultimately become successful, they must start developing and producing good players from within.

It is clear that any player the Pirates trade before or at the trade deadline this season will not be the kind - unless its Brian Giles - to gain an outstanding player or players. The likes of Kenny Lofton, Matt Stairs, Reggie Sanders, Jeff Suppan, Jeff D'Amico, Mike Williams and Scott Sauerbeck just won't move contenders to expend much talent for their services.

It is true Lofton has enjoyed a fine season. But nobody except the Pirates wanted him in the off-season. The Chicago White Sox traded him to San Francisco last year and received a pair of good - and nothing more - pitching prospects. Stairs and Sanders would bring less.

Depending on the team, Suppan and D'Amico might bring a prospect or two. Sauerbeck, who entered this season held in high regard around the game, has not pitched well and his stock has fallen.

Williams has performed well for the Pirates but he wasn't in great demand a few years ago when Littlefield traded him for Tony McKnight, who couldn't make it in the Pirates' organization.

Giles would be a player capable of bringing a huge return. While Littlefield has said no player is untouchable, the GM would have to be overwhelmed to pull the trigger on dealing Giles.

The other Pirate who could bring a nice return is pitcher Kris Benson, who reportedly has been offered around the league. Benson has failed to live up to his potential in the eyes of Pirates brass. However, there remains some questions about his physical well being and that may cause interested parties to back away from a trade right now. Benson can become a free agent after the 2004 season and that too factors into the Pirates' desire to possibly deal him now.

Littlefield might also look for a second baseman. Pokey Reese remains on the disabled list and the Pirates will not pick up the $5 million club option they hold for 2004.

On The Farm

Minor-league second baseman Jose Castillo, who has played the year at Class AAA Altoona, might be ready to play in Pittsburgh in 2004, but if the team could land a veteran second baseman in the interim, it might be best to give Castillo one more year of seasoning.

The organization does have a few minor-league prospects who appear to be close to making contributions on the big-league level. That group includes pitchers Ryan Vogelsong and Duaner Sanchez, outfielders J.J. Davis and Tony Alvarez and first baseman Carlos Rivera.

Brian Graham, the Pirates' director of player development, said Vogelsong and Sanchez, both out of minor league options in 2004, figure to be strong contenders for the major league staff next year.

Graham also identified catcher Humberto Cota, Davis, Alvarez and even Castillo as potential big-leaguers next year. He dubbed Rivera a sleeper. Cota and Davis will not have minor-league options in 2004. All the players Graham identified as potential Pirates next season, have played the majority or all of the season at Class AAA Nashville this year. Castillo began the season as AA Altoona's shortstop and then moved to second base after Reese suffered an injury that left him on the 60-day disabled list.

Vogelsong was recalled to Pittsburgh and started his first major league game in nearly two years, June 22, against Cleveland. After a difficult outing he was optioned to Nashville and Sanchez was recalled to fortify a tired bullpen. Sanchez's stay was short. After he showed up late for a game in Montreal June 24, the pirates promptly shipped him back to Nashville. The Pirates have remained cautious with both Vogelsong and Sanchez in their developmental process. Vogelsong suffered an arm injury early in his Pirates career (in 2001) shortly after being acquired at the trade deadline from San Francisco. Sanchez, acquired from Arizona in 2002, has been used as a set up man for journeyman Mark Corey at Nashville.

Vogelsong figures to replace either Suppan or D'Amico in the starting rotation. Sanchez, viewed by many as the team's closer of the future, won't be closing games in Pittsburgh next season if things work out the way the front office would like.

'The way Vogelsong is recovering from his injury. . . he's making great strides and hopefully it continues into next year,' Graham said. 'He's in the process of regaining his command, which is usually the last thing that comes back from UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) surgery. Certainly, there's probably a two-year window where you're not 100 percent. When he comes to spring training next year he'll be at that point where we'll look for him to actually be 100 percent healthy.

'Sanchez throws hard and is becoming much more of a pitcher. He's making very good strides in terms of his command, and his touch and his feel as opposed to just trying to throw 100 mph.'

Graham said everyone has to be patient with Sanchez and not to expect too much from him too soon.

'I think down the line, he'll probably end up being a closer,' Graham said. 'At this point in his career, his command is so inconsistent. When he comes to the big leagues, it will be somewhere from the middle to the end of the bullpen but not necessarily as a closer. He needs experience at the major league level.'

While some who follow the club and its minor-league system think Davis and Alzarez may be washing out as big-time prospects, Graham thinks the two have the potential to contribute. A lot of their success depends on maturity.

'J.J. Davis is making great strides at Triple A,' Graham said. 'His physical skills can play at the major league level.'

As for Alvarez, questions were raised about his character earlier this season when he was suspended for a week by the organization for an undisclosed matter.

'Alvarez is definitely a prospect,' Graham said. 'He's a good player. I maintain the belief that Tony Alvarez is going to play at the level of his competition. That suggests something about his makeup. He hasn't quite matured where he can play above his level. He needs experience and he needs to grow up. But he's a pretty good player.'

Cota was granted an extra option year, much to his dismay. He struggled early last season at Nashville after being demoted out of spring training. Cota reportedly sulked and then finally pulled himself together. He started slowly for the Sounds again this season, but it seems the Pirates are counting on him to be the backup catcher next year.

The most intriguing player and top position player prospect in the system is Castillo. Graham loves his ability, attitude and approach. Dale Sveum, Altoona's manager, thinks Castillo is pretty special as well.

'This kid loves to play. He loves to play the game. He loves to practice. He's a gamer and he's also very talented,' Graham said. 'He's played extremely well at second base. He also sees opportunity. He looks at our big-league club. He knew when we moved him to second base it was to expedite his learning process.'

Sveum, a former big-league infielder, said while Castillo still has a ways to go offensively before he's ready to be successful in the majors, his defense is solid and he handles second base like he has played it his entire career.

'He's very comfortable there and he looks very, very good as a second baseman around the bag. He's tremendous at turning double plays.

'He has some things in his swing that needs to be worked out, that can be exposed at times. He needs to be a little more consistent with his approach at the plate.'

John E. Sacco has covered the Pirates and major league baseball for PSR since October 1998. Previously, He is a former member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Pittsburgh Chapter.