Published: July 11, 2009 11:59 pm      

More Pirates roster changes are likely in 2nd half

PITTSBURGH — The first half of the Pirates’ season has been more notable for what happened off the field.

General Manager Neal Huntington pulled a shocker June 3 when he traded center fielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta for three minor-leaguers that included right-hander Charlie Morton, now in the Pirates’ rotation. McLouth signed a three-year, $15.75-million contract in February after appearing in his first All-Star game and winning his first Gold Glove in 2008.

Huntington shook things up again June 30 when he dealt left fielder Nyjer Morgan and left-handed reliever Sean Burnett to Washington for right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan and outfielder Lastings Milledge, who is at Class AAA Indianapolis.

“It’s never easy to trade players who are good people and important parts of your team but these were deals we could not turn down,” Huntington said. “We drove a high price in both trades and it was met. We got players in return who have very high upside and can be a big part of our organization for many years to come. As painful as it was to make the trades, I know we’re closer to being an organization capable of winning championships than we were when the season started.”

That is not necessarily reflected in the Pirates’ record. They are last in the National League Central and seem certain to finish below .500 for a 17th consecutive losing season, which would be an American professional sports record.

Whatever the Pirates’ final record ends up being this season, one can be certain the roster will have a different look by the time the final game is played Oct. 4 at Cincinnati.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who has had a bounce-back season after a sub-par 2008 to be named to his third All-Star game in four years, looks like he will be the next key player in the lineup to depart. A number of teams are interested in trading for the 2006 NL batting champion, including Colorado, San Francisco and Minnesota.

The Pirates are also willing to deal first baseman Adam LaRoche, shortstop Jack Wilson and left-handed reliever John Grabow as all are eligible to become free agents at the end of the season. While Grabow is attractive to a number of contenders, it appears there is little market at the present for LaRoche or Wilson.

The Pirates will even listen to trade offers on left-handed starters Zach Duke and Paul Maholm and closer Matt Capps, though it would take an attractive package of young players to get any of those three.

Ideally, the Pirates would like to acquire a right-handed power hitter who would eventually team with Class AA Altoona left-handed hitting third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the organization’s top prospect, in the middle of the batting order. The Pirates are also looking for middle infielders and, like every team, pitching.

It would seem the trade value of Duke and Capps is at its highest, meaning the Pirates might deal both this season. Huntington has already proven that he looks to sell high on players, trading McLouth and Morgan when their desirability to other clubs was seemingly at a peak.

Duke was 8-7 with a 3.28 ERA in 17 starts coming into the weekend while Capps was 1-4 with 19 saves and a 4.71 ERA in 31 games.

“In our situation, I don’t think we can ever say anyone is untouchable,” Huntington said. “We can never shut ourselves off to any trade that could make us better.”

One pitcher who doesn’t have much trade value at the moment is right-hander Ian Snell, who was optioned to Indianapolis last month after going 2-8 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 starts. Snell claimed he asked to be demoted to a more stress-free environment because he was depressed and even had thoughts of suicide.

While the Pirates have privately all but given up on Snell, they are hoping their offense, which lacks power, gets contributions from catcher Ryan Doumit and right fielder Brandon Moss in the second half.

Doumit, who hit .318 with 15 home runs last season, was activated from the disabled list Friday after being out since April 20 with a broken wrist. Moss came into the weekend with just two home runs in 233 plate appearances after being handed a starting job coming out of spring training.

“I really think we have a lot to look forward to in the second half because we have a lot of players who are going to get an opportunity and show improvement,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “I’m excited about what we can do.”