PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired third
baseman Casey McGehee from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for
reliever Jose Veras.

The move came hours after the Brewers agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday.

McGehee had a strong rookie season in 2009 and a big year in 2010 but then slumped at the plate in 2011 and lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. late in the season. McGehee batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs for the NL Central champions, a year after hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs.

Veras was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA and one save in a career-high 79
appearances last season for Pittsburgh.

Both players are eligible for arbitration.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have declined options on pitcher Paul Maholm, catchers Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder and shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

The move allows each player to become a free agent.

Maholm was due $9.75 million in salary next season. The 29-year-old lefthander is 53-73 in seven seasons with the Pirates. He went 6-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 2011 and ended the season on the disabled list with arm trouble.

Doumit and Snyder battled injuries last season. Snyder hit .271 in 34 before going out with back problems while Doumit hit .303 with 30 RBI in 77 games but missed all of June and July with a leg injury.

Cedeno hit .249 in 2011 but consistently found himself in manager Clint Hurdle’s doghouse due to mental lapses.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have declined options on pitcher Paul Maholm, catchers Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder and shortstop Ronny Cedeno.

The move allows each player to become a free agent.

Maholm was due $9.75 million in salary next season. The 29-year-old lefthander is 53-73 in seven seasons with the Pirates. He went 6-14 with a 3.66 ERA in 2011 and ended the season on the disabled list with arm trouble.

Doumit and Snyder battled injuries last season. Snyder hit .271 in 34 before going out with back problems while Doumit hit .303 with 30 RBIs in 77 games but missed all of June and July with a leg injury.

Cedeno hit .249 in 2011 but consistently found himself in manager Clint Hurdle’s doghouse due to mental lapses.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton will be out about six months after having hip surgery.

Morton had the surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum, and is not expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The 27-year-old Morton experienced discomfort in the hip throughout the season. He went 10-10 with a 3.83 ERA despite the problem.

The previous year, the right-hander was 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA.

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

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton will be out about six months after having hip surgery.

Morton had the surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum, and is not expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The 27-year-old Morton experienced discomfort in the hip throughout the season. He went 10-10 with a 3.83 earned-run average despite the problem.

The previous year, the right-hander was 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton will be out about six months after having hip surgery.

Morton had the surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum, and is not expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The 27-year-old Morton experienced discomfort in the hip throughout the season. He went 10-10 with a 3.83 ERA despite the problem.

The previous year, the right-hander was 2-12 with a 7.57 ERA.

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