Morton, Hart playing their way out of a spot in the rotation for 2010

By John Perrotto

When the dust had settled following the seven trades the Pirates made from June 3-July 30 that completely reshaped the roster, manager John Russell thought he was sure of one thing.

“What I really like about these trades it that we have a very solid rotation now,” Russell said. “We’re strong from 1-5.”

It turns out Russell was only three-fifths right in his assessment.

Barring an unforeseen major off-season acquisition, only three rotation spots will be set when spring training begins in February. And those spots will belong to pitchers who have been in the rotation all season _ left-handers Zach Duke and Paul Maholm and right-hander Ross Ohlendorf.

The two starters acquired in trades, right-handers Charlie Morton and Kevin Hart, have been major disappointments. Morton, picked up from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth trade, is 3-8 with a 5.35 ERA in 15 starts. Hart, acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a deal for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny, is 1-5 with a 6.46 ERA in seven starts.

Thus, Morton and Hart will be part of what figures to be a large spring competition for two openings.

Rookie right-hander Daniel McCutchen will certainly be part of that completion as he is getting a chance to prove himself during the final weeks of this season. He will make his third career start Monday night against the Dodgers at Los Angeles after going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. He was 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts with Class AAA Indianapolis.

Other internal candidates could include rookie left-hander Donnie Veal and right-handers Jose Ascanio,