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Bucs mull options when Mercer, Harrison return

That might not be the facial expression you'd expect from a manager who currently has a third baseman, Aramis Ramirez, who has hit .340 with 12 RBIs over his last 13 games, and a shortstop, Jung Ho Kang, hitting .318 since the All-Star break. It's an impending problem that might make even a diplomat like Henry Kissinger scowl.

"What problem?" Hurdle says.

"Yeah, won't it be fun?" Hurdle said. "You get more players back, the better the team is going to be. I'm looking forward to it."

Harrison, who had left thumb surgery for a torn ligament July 8, and Mercer, who sprained his left knee July 19, both went on their rehab assignments to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug.