General manager Neal Huntington said the Pirates are taking a look at middle infield prospects Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer as possible upgrades to the roster, but a promotion to a part-time role remains unlikely.
Sean Rodriguez has a .286 on-base percentage and a .299 slugging percentage, and has struck out 32 percent of the time this season. But he is the only player on the roster other than Jordy Mercer who can play a shortstop.
“Sean is producing,” Huntington said. “It’s just not statistically with batting average, there are other ways he was producing and is still a really good defender, had a three-game defensive slump, but there are other ways beyond batting average that a player can produce and can impact a club in a positive direction.