The Pirates signed five free agents this winter, the most notable being RHP Octavio Dotel, who will be the closer. The others are expected to serve in complementary roles: LHP Javier Lopez, RHP Brendan Donnelly, INF Bobby Crosby and OF Ryan Church.

ARRIVALS: INF Bobby Crosby (free agent from A's), 2B Akinori Iwamura (trade with Rays), RHP Chris Jakubauskas (claimed off waivers from Mariners), LHP Javier Lopez (free agent from Red Sox), OF Ryan Church (free agent from Braves), RHP D.J. Carrasco (minor league free agent from White Sox), RHP Brian Bass (minor league free agent from Orioles), RHP Brendan Donnelly (free agent from Marlins), OF Brandon Jones (claimed off waivers from Braves), RHP Octavio Dotel (free agent from White Sox).

DEPARTURES: RHP Jesse Chavez (traded to Rays, who traded him to Braves), LHP Phil Dumatrait (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Tigers), RHP Matt Capps (non-tendered, signed with Nationals).

SPRING FOCUS: Manager John Russell wants to use spring training as a bonding experience after the Pirates made seven trades last June and July. The Pirates have a fairly settled team considering they lost 99 games last season. The most notable spring competition will be between RHPs Kevin Hart and Daniel McCutchen for the fifth starter's spot. Jeff Clement will try to make the conversion from catcher to first baseman, and if that fails, then RF Garrett Jones would shift to first and Ryan Church likely would move in as the starting right fielder.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. LHP Zach Duke

2. LHP Paul Maholm

3. RHP Ross Ohlendorf

4. RHP Charlie Morton

5. RHP Kevin Hart

Duke and Maholm are the two veterans in a young rotation, though Duke is just 26 and Maholm is 27. They would be back-end starters on many clubs with their middling stuff, but they will be asked to lead this staff.

The hard-throwing Ohlendorf took a major step forward in the second half of last season, and he will look to build on that success. Morton has the best pure stuff of any starter, and the Pirates feel this could be his breakout season. Hart has impressed manager John Russell with how well he is throwing this spring after changing his pitching mechanics over the winter, and he rates the edge over RHP Daniel McCutchen for the fifth starter's job.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Octavio Dotel (closer)

RHP Brendan Donnelly

RHP Joel Hanrahan

RHP Evan Meek

RHP Kevin Hart

LHP Javier Lopez

RHP D.J. Carrasco

Dotel still has the power arm to rack up the strikeouts at 36, but his increasing walk total is a concern, especially in moving from a middle-relief role with the White Sox to closer. Donnelly gives the Pirates a veteran setup presence and backup closer while allowing the hard-throwing Hanrahan, Meek and Hart more time to develop in lower-leverage situations.

Lopez figures to be the left-handed specialist, and he had three good years with Boston from 2006-08 until imploding early last season and spending the summer at Class AAA Pawtucket. The rubber-armed Carrasco can work in a variety of roles, including as the long man.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Andrew McCutchen

2. 2B Akinori Iwamura

3. RF Garrett Jones

4. C Ryan Doumit

5. 1B Jeff Clement

6. LF Lastings Milledge

7. 3B Andy LaRoche

8. SS Ronny Cedeno

McCutchen was dazzling as a rookie last season and should continue his march toward becoming a dynamic leadoff hitter, Gold Glove-caliber fielder and franchise cornerstone. Iwamura was acquired from Tampa Bay to solidify the infield defense and also provide a second speed player at the top of the lineup.

Jones hit a team-leading 21 home runs in 358 at-bats last season as a 28-year-old rookie, but he will have to show that he was more than a one-year wonder. Doumit is a switch hitter with power, particularly from the left side, but his ability to stay healthy is always a concern. The Pirates have high hopes of Clement developing into a power hitter, but he was considered a bust in Seattle.

Milledge dispelled questions about his attitude and work ethic after being acquired from Washington last season, and he seems ready to live up to his vast potential. LaRoche had a strong finish in 2009, but top prospect Pedro Alvarez will be playing third base at Class AAA Indianapolis and waiting to take his place. Cedeno showed flashes of being a potentially above-average player after being acquired from the Mariners last year. He had a big winter-ball season in his native Venezuela.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Jason Jaramillo

INF Bobby Crosby

INF Ramon Vazquez

OF Ryan Church

OF/INF Delwyn Young

Jaramillo was solid behind the plate as a rookie last season, but he isn't much of a hitter. Crosby will try to resurrect his career after spending seven seasons in Oakland. He can play all four infield spots as well as the outfield corners. Vazquez's limited range makes him an iffy proposition in the field, particularly at shortstop, and he primarily will be used as a left-handed pinch hitter. Church is an insurance policy in the event Clement fizzles in spring training, as he would likely become the starting right fielder with Jones shifting to first base. Young failed to seize the starting second base job after Freddy Sanchez was traded to San Francisco last July, but he is a good right-handed bench bat.

TOP ROOKIES: RHP Ramon Aguero blossomed after being moved to a relief role early last season, his fastball topping out at 98 mph when used in short stints. He posted a combined 3.86 ERA in 84 innings with low Class A West Virginia, high Class A Lynchburg and Class AA Altoona. The Pirates love hard throwers, so the 25-year-old could win a job with a big spring. OF John Raynor was selected in the Rule 5 draft from Florida after hitting .257 with six home runs, 36 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 123 games with Class AAA New Orleans. The Pirates like the 26-year-old's speed and defensive ability. He could beat out Delwyn Young for the fifth outfield job.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Octavio Dotel (strained muscle in left rib cage) threw a bullpen session March 9 and reported no problems. He remained optimistic about being ready for the start of the season.

--RHP Joel Hanrahan (strained right elbow) was shut down at the start of spring training. He is expected to start the season on the disabled list.

--RHP Craig Hansen (nerve problem in neck) was slowed at the beginning of spring training. He should be able to pitch at some point this season.

--RHP Jose Ascanio (arthroscopic right shoulder surgery in October 2009) likely will be out until June.

--INF Ramon Vazquez (microfracture right knee surgery in November 2009) is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

--RHP Tyler Yates (Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2009) likely will be ready to pitch in games sometime in July.

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