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 (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RHP Ross Ohlendorf from AAA Indianapolis and have designated reliever Joe Beimel for assignment.

Ohlendorf is expected to start on Tuesday night when the Pirates host first-place Milwaukee. It will be his first start with Pittsburgh since being placed on the disabled list in April with discomfort in his left (throwing) shoulder. Ohlendorf went 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in seven minor league starts. He is 0-0 with a 7.37 ERA in two starts with Pittsburgh.

Beimel went 1-1 with a 5.33 ERA in 35 games for Pittsburgh but has struggled this month, giving up eight runs in 5 2-3 innings, including a two-run homer to Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun on Monday night.

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PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Pirates have put reliever Evan Meek(notes) on the
disabled list because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.

The Pirates purchased the contract of fellow right-hander Tim Wood(notes) from
Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Meek was out almost four weeks earlier this season for the same reason. An
All-Star last year, he is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA. He gave up nine hits in 3 1-3
innings over his past three appearances.

Meek will be examined by Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

Wood had 13 saves and a 2.96 ERA in 23 games for Indianapolis. He pitched 44
games for Florida the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh put catcher Chris Snyder(notes) on the 60-day disabled list. He had back
surgery this week is expected to return late in the season.

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Pirates designated reliever Jose Ascanio(notes)
for assignment and recalled left-hander Tony Watson on Tuesday.

Ascanio had a 7.11 ERA in eight games, allowing 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings in
his first action in the majors since 2009. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a
trade July 30, 2009, Ascanio missed all of last season following right shoulder
surgery.

The 26-year-old Watson had a 2.45 ERA, 29 strikeouts in 29 1-3 innings and
had limited opponents to a .179 average in 22 games for Triple-A Indianapolis.
He was Pittsburgh’s ninth-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has oft stated his preference for having two
left-handers available in the bullpen. Watson joins rookie Daniel Moskos(notes).
Veteran Joe Beimel(notes) is on the disabled list.