Pirates pursue recovering Baldelli

And the recombinanting team DNA of Mientkiewicz.

The Pirates have had several conversations with Baldelli’s representatives, according to one high-ranking team executive, and their pursuit is serious. General manager Neal Huntington has acknowledged wanting a right-handed power bat for the outfield—Nate McLouth, Brandon Moss and Nyjer Morgan all are left-handed—and Baldelli could fit that, the Pirates believe, even if he continues to require regular rest.

Another right-handed power bat the Pirates had been weighing, Ty Wigginton, has fallen to the background. Wigginton’s primary positions are third and first base, and newcomer Ramon Vazquez now is Andy LaRoche’s backup at third, and Steve Pearce could be Adam LaRoche’s backup across the diamond.

One free agent the Pirates continue to keep on their list—but still with no offer—is Doug Mientkiewicz, as Huntington acknowledged yesterday. Huntington said the team wants to be sure Mientkiewicz has room on the diamond and cited, as an example, the at-bats he will lose with Vazquez now available at third.

“Obviously, what Doug meant to this team in the clubhouse is invaluable,” Huntington said. “But we want to make sure there’s a place for him to play.”