Matt Lawton said yesterday he is aware of the trade talks, which have been taking place for more than two weeks, adding he fully expects to be dealt. "Oh, yeah, for sure," he said. "When I came over here, I was expecting to get traded. That's just how it is. I just want to do well and, when my day comes, I hope the new situation is good." The Pirates acquired Lawton, 33, from the Cleveland Indians in December for reliever Arthur Rhodes. Lawton is making a base salary of $7.75 million this year, of which the Pirates are responsible for $6.35 million. After the season, he is eligible for free agency, which is the primary reason the team is trying to move him. Lawton described recent chatter he has picked up as being less intense than two weeks ago, while the Pirates were playing at Yankee Stadium. "When we were in New York, my phone was ringing off the hook with people telling me I was going to stay in New York," he said. "I had one foot on the plane, and I thought I was going to have to get back off."