Brad Eldred will miss at least four months and possibly the season, it was determined yesterday after he had surgery to repair a fracture and damaged ligament in his left thumb. The operation was performed by Dr. Mark Baratz at Allegheny General Hospital. The thumb will be in a splint for 6-8 weeks, after which Eldred can begin modest exercises. "Sounds like the season for him," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that the team and Jody Gerut have reached a mutual agreement in Gerut?s injury grievance. The agreement, which was reached prior to an arbitration hearing, calls for Gerut to report to the team?s Spring Training facility in Bradenton, Florida where he will resume baseball related activities. ?We are pleased that we were able to reach a mutual agreement. Jody will report to our Spring Training facility in Florida where his progress will be evaluated,? said Dave Littlefield, Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager. ?We are very much looking forward to Jody being a member of the Pirates organization in 2006 and beyond.?

First baseman Sean Casey will be out of the Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup for six to eight weeks with two fractures in his left lower back. Casey, the Pirates' highest-paid player, was injured during Friday night's game against the Cubs while he was stretching for a throw. As John Mabry was running out an infield single in the third inning, he stumbled crossing the bag and clipped Casey with his hip or left elbow. Casey took several strides toward the pitcher's mound with the ball before dropping to his knees in obvious pain. He was assisted off the field and needed help getting to the clubhouse before being taken to a hospital for tests. "When he and Mabry collided, I knew there was something wrong. I knew there was something more than having the wind knocked out of him," manager Jim Tracy said Saturday. "He was feeling shooting pain down his lower back and three times he tried to stand up and couldn't."

The Pittsburgh Pirates today placed first baseman Sean Casey on the 15-day disabled list with two fractures of the transverse process in his left lower back (the transverse process is where the muscles attach to the vertebrae). He will be out six to eight weeks. The injury does not involve an operation but rest instead. To take Casey's place on the 25-man roster, the club has purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Mike Edwards from Triple-A Indianapolis. Edwards hit .316 (6-for-19) with a double, triple, home run and three RBI in his first six games with the Indians this season. Edwards also hit .308 (12-for-39) with a double, home run and four RBI in 21 games this spring with Pittsburgh.

Manager Jim Tracy said that first baseman Sean Casey and third baseman Joe Randa likely would return to the starting lineup tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Casey did not play in the two previous games due to a bruised left rib cage. He pinch-hit Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and grounded out to second. After the game, Casey said he felt fine. Randa has missed two consecutive games with a strained lower abdomen.

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Salomon Torres on a two-year contract extension through the 2008 season with a club option for 2009. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dave Littlefield. No other terms of the deal were disclosed.

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today General Manager Dave Littlefield?s contract has been extended through the 2008 season. The announcement was made by Kevin McClatchy, Pirates CEO and Managing General Partner. Littlefield?s success in rebuilding the Pirates minor league system and improving the team during the offseason were major factors in the decision, according to McClatchy. ?Dave personifies our new ?WE WILL? attitude and commitment to improving in all aspects of our organization,? said McClatchy.