Today the Pittsburgh Pirates optioned reliever Josh Sharpless to Class AAA Indianapolis. Another questionble move considering Sharpless was close to a sure thing of making the team again. Sharpless, a 26-year-old right-hander and Beaver native, spent 14 games with the Pirates last season — 1.50 ERA, seven strikeouts and 11 walks in 12 innings. Sharpless did not have a great spring but posted a 2.08 era in eight apparances.

The team also reassigned outfielder Michael Ryan and catcher Einar Diaz to trim the roster to 32. The roster, which still has 16 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and five outfielders, must be at 25 by Sunday, the day before the season opener in Houston.