The Pirates traded infielder Josh Fields to the Colorado Rockies today for a player to be named later or cash. Fields, a non-roster invitee, was optioned to minor league camp on Friday. He struggled this spring, hitting .172/.306/.207 in 29 at-bats. Fields was unlikely to see much playing time in the Pirates organization, due to a major logjam in the infield at Triple-A Indianapolis. Jeff Clement, Matt Hague, Josh Harrison, Corey Wimberly, Jim Negrych, Chase d’Arnaud, Jordy Mercer, Pedro Ciriaco, Brian Friday and Andy Marte all will be vying for playing time on the infield dirt.
The Pirates may clear a little more room on the Indianapolis roster in the near future. Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Indians beat writer for The Plain Dealer, is reporting that the team is trying to deal Marte so that he can land a big league job. Also, Negrych has asked the team to release him if he does not make the Triple-A roster.