--INF Ramon Vazquez is expected to be asked to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Two other players on the 40-man roster who could wind up in the WBC are LHP Dave Davidson (Canada) and INF Luis Cruz (Mexico).

--RHP Derrick Turnbow spurned an offer from the Pirates and signed with Texas as a free agent for one year and $925,000 with the chance to make an extra $325,000 in performance bonuses. The Pirates, Rangers and Marlins were the finalists for Turnbow, who chose Texas because of pitching coach Mike Maddux, who was also his pitching coach with Milwaukee.

--RHP Evan Meek, a Rule 5 draft pick from Tampa Bay last winter, had an outstanding winter ball season in the Mexican Pacific League, going 1-1 with 10 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 18 relief appearances for Mazatlan. Meek was 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA in nine games for the Pirates last season but has a good chance of winning a bullpen job in spring training.

--INF Luis Cruz, who rates a good chance of winning the second utility infielder's spot behind Vazquez, hit .277 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 49 games with Obregon in the Mexican Pacific League.

BY THE NUMBERS: 214. Career victories for free agent RHP Pedro Martinez, someone the Pirates have interest in as they look for a veteran to stabilize their young starting rotation.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not a case of where we could break the bank for someone like Pedro but we certainly would be interested if he had interest and it was a good fit for us financially," -- Pirates GM Neal Huntington on the possibility of signing Martinez.