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In a deadline shocker, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for San Diego Padres outfielder Ryan Ludwick. Your definition of shocker may vary. Live a little! The Padres will receive a player to be named later, according to Jon Morosi.

In the past week, the Pirates started Xavier Paul, Alex Presley, and Matt Diaz in left field. While Presley has done well in limited action — with a .402 OBP in 81 at-bats — he was put on the disabled list last Monday with a thumb injury. The Pirates entered Sunday’s action 3-1/2 games out of first place, which is close enough to want to improve, but far enough away to feel wary about making a huge short-term move. This trade strikes a pretty fair balance.

Ludwick is hitting .238/.301/.373 for the Padres this year, which looks bad until you shine the numbers through the Petco Park prism, and then … they still don’t look that good (92 OPS+). But he’s doing okay against left-handed pitching, and the Pirates didn’t exactly mortgage the future for him. Of course, Jameson Taillon was a first rounder last year, so if he were in any deal, he’d have to be a player to be named later. Hint hint!

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates activated slugging third baseman Pedro Alvarez from the disabled list on Saturday and immediately optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Alvarez, the 2008 No. 2 overall draft pick who was in his first full major league season, had been on the disabled list since May 20 with a right quadriceps strain.

“Pedro remains a big part of our future,” general manager Neal Huntington said, “but we believe making this move is the best way to get him back on track offensively and defensively so that he can help us win games at the major league level.”

Alvarez was hitting .208 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 36 games this season after hitting 16 home runs in 347 at-bats as a rookie last season.

The 24-year-old Alvarez had 11 strikeouts and two extra-base hits (both doubles) in 33 at bats over 11 games with Class A Bradenton and Indianapolis as part of his rehabilitation assignment.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said the organization wanted to take the pressure of returning to the majors off of Alvarez and have him focus solely on improving.

“We needed a volume of at-bats strung together that has noting to do with home runs, OPS, slugging percentage,” Hurdle said. “Where (Alvarez is) squaring the ball up hard and hitting it where it’s pitched. That’s what we want (him) to focus on.”

Brandon Wood and rookies Josh Harrison and Chase d’Arnaud have been splitting the playing time at third base with Alvarez out.

Alvarez has been one of the centerpieces of the Pirates’ latest rebuilding effort. Mired in a string of 18 consecutive losing seasons and coming off 105 losses last season, Pittsburgh (46-42) has had its best pre-All-star break record since 1992.

But it’s been mostly pitching that has the Pirates within a game of first place as play began Saturday. The team ranks 12th in the National League in runs, 13th in home runs and 15th in slugging percentage. Alvarez is one of the few pure power hitters in the organization.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read More: Ryan Doumit (C – PIT), Ronny Cedeno (SS – PIT), Joe Beimel (P – PIT), Jose Tabata (LF – PIT), Pedro Alvarez (3B – PIT), Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington, manager Clint Hurdle and others were in a meeting Wednesday that dealt with how to approach the MLB trade deadline which comes at the end of the month. One point they discussed was the potential impact of players who are returning from injury. 

Part of the time was devoted to identifying when various players should be ready to come off the disabled list and determining how those moves would affect the current roster. With as many as eight injured players potentially being ready to return over the next month, the Pirates might be able to fill particular areas of need internally.

The Pirates are right to note that some of their biggest improvements could come from within, as players like Pedro Alvarez get back from the disabled list. It’s strange – it seems like all Pirates fans have talked about recently are winning, and injuries.

The fact that so many players will be returning fairly soon (Alvarez, Jose Tabata, Ronny Cedeno, perhaps Ryan Doumit and Joe Beimel) suggests that the Pirates are unlikely to make splashy moves at the deadline. They might not have done it anyway, despite the fact that they’re surprise contenders this year, because they don’t want to mortgage their future. But it seems particularly unlikely if they feel like they can improve from within.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Chris Snyder on the disabled list Thursday with a herniated disk, meaning the team’s top three catchers are injured.

Snyder is scheduled for back surgery on Friday. To take his place on the roster, Pittsburgh purchased the contract of Wyatt Toregas from Triple-A Indianapolis – where he was hitting .034 (1 for 29).

Snyder left Wednesday’s game after sliding awkwardly into second base trying to stretch a single during the second inning. Former starter Ryan Doumit (left ankle sprain) has been out since May 30, and the organization’s No. 3 catcher, Jason Jaramillo, is on a minor league disabled list with an elbow injury.

For now, journeyman Dusty Brown (29 career at-bats) is the Pirates’ starter, although manager Clint Hurdle said neither Brown nor fellow 28-year-old Toregas (51 career at-bats) would catch too many consecutive days.

Hurdle also indicated the team was pursuing catching options outside of the organization.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed Chris Snyder on the disabled list Thursday with a herniated disk, meaning the team’s top three catchers are injured.

Snyder is scheduled for back surgery on Friday. To take his place on the roster, Pittsburgh purchased the contract of Wyatt Toregas from Triple-A Indianapolis – where he was hitting .034 (1 for 29).

Snyder left Wednesday’s game after sliding awkwardly into second base trying to stretch a single during the second inning. Former starter Ryan Doumit (left ankle sprain) has been out since May 30, and the organization’s No. 3 catcher, Jason Jaramillo, is on a minor league disabled list with an elbow injury.

For now, journeyman Dusty Brown (29 career at-bats) is the Pirates’ starter, although manager Clint Hurdle said neither Brown nor fellow 28-year-old Toregas (51 career at-bats) would catch too many consecutive days.

Hurdle also indicated the team was pursuing catching options outside of the organization.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.