The Pirates have designated 27-year old righty swinging 3B Andy LaRoche for assignment. LaRoche played in 102 games for the Pirates last season and he was 51 of 247 (.206 avg, .555 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 4 homers and 16 RBIs. He played in 301 games in three years with the Pirates and he was 211 of 935 (.226 avg, .637 OPS) with 101 runs scored, 19 homers, 92 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. With Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner, LaRoche is no longer needed in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates have designated 28-year old switch hitting 2B/OF Delwyn Young for assignment. Young played in 110 games for the Pirates last season and he was 45 of 191 (.236 avg, .700 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBIs. He played in 234 games in two years with the Pirates and he was 139 of 545 (.255 avg, .705 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Pirates might miss Young a tad as his versatility off the bench helped the Pirates the last couple of years.

The Pirates have designated 27-year old lefty starting pitcher Zach Duke for assignment. Duke started 29 games for the Pirates last season and he was 8-15 with a 5.72 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He pitched in 160 games (159 starts) in his six years with the Pirates and he was 45-70 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. This has been a long time coming as Duke teased the Pirates as a rookie before showing his real self. Some team will take a chance on Duke but the Pirates will be better off without him…..maybe.

UPDATE: (11/24/2010) - The Pirates have dealt Zach Duke to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later.

UPDATE II: (12/9/2010) - The Pirates have acquired 25-year old starter/reliever Cesar Valdez from the D-Backs to complete this deal. Valdez pitched in 9 games (2 starts) for the Diamondbacks last season and he was 1-2 with a 7.65 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP. Valdez also pitched in 20 games (18 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 6-10 with a 5.90 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.

22-year old righty swinging outfielder Jose Tabata finished tied for 8th in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting with lefty reliever Jonny Venters of the Braves. Tabata played in 102 games for the Pirates last season and he was 121 of 405 (.299 avg, .746 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 4 homers, 35 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Tabata appears to have a bright future for the Pirates.

25-year old switch hitting 2B Neil Walker finished tied for 5th in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting with shortstop Starlin Castro of the Cubs. Walker played in 110 games for the Pirates last season and he was 126 of 426 (.296 avg, .811 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 12 homers, 66 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 127 games in his first two years with the Pirates and he is 133 of 462 (.288 avg, .787 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 12 homers, 66 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Walker has a nice upside and he will be the Pirates’ starting 2B going forward.