PIRATES RUMOR MILL

The Pirates plan to demote Jose Tabata today has been in place since the weekend and is the Pirates next plan to promote top outfield prospect Starling Marte to the Majors as early as next week, following the All-Star break?
It appears to be a possibility.
The Pirates who just a few months ago didn’t plan for Marte to join the Majors until at least September, now feel he is on the fast track to a callup and the team expects to have serious discussions about Marte later this week, a team source says.
Marte is hitting .291 with 9 home runs and 50 RBIs in 78 games for Indianapolis. Marte has 16 doubles, 10 triples and has stolen 17 bases.
The Pirates feel Marte is slowing developing as a complete hitter as his struggles to draw walks has been a concern inside the organization. The Pirates have seen improvement in that area as Marte’s 21 walks is just one less of the amount of times he walked in 2011 (22) in 536 at-bats. Marte is batting .457 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI’s in his last 10 games and has 9 extra base hits during that span. The Pirates plan is to move Marte to right field.

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