Lee not interested despite attempts to lure him

--1B Derrek Lee remained on the open market, but the Pirates have essentially given up on coaxing him back to Pittsburgh. They offered him salary arbitration, which would have guaranteed him about $8 million. He has a list of 3-4 teams with whom he would sign, or he could retire. The Pirates aren't one of those teams.

--3B Pedro Alvarez will be given that position entering spring training, but another showing like last season -- .191, four home runs -- almost surely will result in his going to the minors. His performance could impact first base, as well, where Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones will platoon so long as Alvarez can cover third. If not, McGehee will go to third.

--RHP Roy Oswalt, another free agent the Pirates inquired on, told them he is not interested. The parties never even engaged in discussions.

--1B Dmitri Young, a free agent, will work out for manager Clint Hurdle at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Young, 38, has not played in the majors since 2008, when he hit .280 in 50 games for the Nationals.

--LHP Tony Watson will be given a shot at the one realistic opening in the bullpen, Hurdle said, but the team wants to see more than just two pitches. Watson will not be among the relievers stretched out early in the spring, Hurdle added, meaning he'd be viewed mostly as situational.

BY THE NUMBERS
1,070 -- Miles the Pirates' equipment truck must log from Pittsburgh to Bradenton, Fla. It began the journey Friday from PNC Park.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"For us to win, it's going to have to be our starting pitching. For 4 1/2 months last year, our starters were right up among the league leaders ... but we've got to find more innings out of them." -- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle

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