Pirates finalize 40-man roster

11/19/2005
PITTSBURGH -- With the deadline for teams to submit their 40-man rosters fast approaching, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced a dozen personnel moves late Friday night.
Right-handed pitching prospect Josh Sharpless and Minor League infielders Yurendell De Caster, Craig Stansberry and Javier Guzman were added to Pittsburgh's 40-man roster. Pitchers Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten, both of whom missed all of last season due to injury, second baseman Jose Castillo and center fielder Chris Duffy were reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
To make room for the additions, center fielder Tike Redman, infielder Bobby Hill, outfielder Michael Restovich and Minor League pitcher Jeff Miller were designated for assignment.
"As you prioritize your roster, we felt that these players [Redman, Hill, Restovich and Miller] fit further down the roster," Littlefield said. "They have had some positive performances and helped the team from time to time. We just see, as we're continuing to fit better, the ability to put some players we think fit better on the roster."
Redman, who made his big-league debut with the Pirates in 2000 and was the team's Opening Day center fielder in 2004 and 2005, batted .251 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 135 games. Redman was relegated mostly to pinch-hitting duties with Duffy and Nate McLouth getting the bulk of the playing time in center field during the later stages of last season.
Hill, the last player remaining with the Pirates from the 2003 deal that sent Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs, hit .269 in 93 at-bats with Pittsburgh before being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on July 22. He was not among the team's September callups.
Restovich played only sparingly after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies on May 11. In 52 games with the Pirates, Restovich went 18-for-84 (.214) with two home runs and five RBIs.
The right-hander Miller was Pittsburgh's 15th-round selection in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He spent the entire 2005 season at Indianapolis, where he compiled a 5-7 mark and a 3.53 ERA in 58 appearances.
Sharpless, a native of Western Pennsylvania, was the Bucs' 24th-round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. The right-hander was 3-0 with five saves and a 0.00 ERA in 17 relief appearances with Lynchburg before being promoted to Altoona, where he continued his solid season by allowing three runs in 9 1/3 innings during his seven outings with the Curve.
De Caster, who was selected by the Pirates from Tampa Bay in the 2000 Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, batted .280 with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 61 RBI with Indianapolis last season.
Stanberry, Pittsburgh's fifth-round pick in the 2003 draft, combined to hit .258 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI in 140 games while splitting his 2005 season between Lynchburg and Altoona.
Guzman, a non-drafted free agent who was signed by the Pirates in August 2000, batted .279 with eight homes runs and 59 RBIs in 137 combined games at Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona in 2005 Guzman named to Carolina League mid-season All-Star team in 2005 and was rated by Baseball America as having the best arm in the Bucs' farm system prior to last season.
The moves Friday gives the Pirates 40 players on their roster. In past seasons, the team had left openings on their 40-man roster in preparation for potential Hot Stove trades and free agent signings.
"We still have some flexibility with a variety of players," said Littlefield. "We'll always take that into account when we look at what options are available to us whether it be for trade of free agents."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/