Freddy

Sanchez

The Pirates don’t expect to make their promotions until next week, after Nashville’s season is over. In 95 at-bats with Nashville, Sanchez is hitting .263-1-7 with eight runs scored, three stolen bases, and a 10/14 bb/k rate. The Pirates apparently view him as a utility player rather than a regular second baseman.

Sanchez, batting .403 this season, was hurt in the first inning of Triple-A Pawtucket’s game.

Sanchez and Bobby Hill, who is rehabbing a sore back, are the top candidates to play second base for the Pirates in 2004.

It’s looking like Sanchez will miss the first month of the season. With Bobby Hill also hurting, the Pirates have been using Jose Castillo and Abraham Nunez at second base.

Sanchez has been out of Triple-A Pawtucket’s lineup since Thursday with a strained left groin. He’s expected back Wednesday or Thursday.

If you can get him cheaply and stash him away, Sanchez is still a sleeper. Bobby Hill will need a hot April to keep the second base job.

If Sanchez isn’t ready to play in games by early next month, Bobby Hill will take over as the favorite to open the season as Pittsburgh’s second baseman. It’s expected to be Sanchez’s job to lose if he’s healthy.

The Pirates should have brought Sanchez right to the majors, but they’ll continue to go with Abraham Nunez and Jeff Reboulet at second base for a little while longer.

The Pirates could market Tike Redman and Sanchez as their top-of-the-order ''wave of the future’’ during the final third of this season. We’re not sure why the Pirates like Redman so much more than, say, Tony Alvarez, but manager Lloyd McClendon called him, ''one of the most important players in our organization.’' If the Pirates really plan on Redman and Sanchez at the top of their lineup, while remaining unsettled in their bullpen, it’s almost a sure thing they will select Francis Beltran over Bobby Hill as the PTBN they are due to receive from the Cubs.

Sanchez has tendinitis in his right ankle and is wearing a cast because doctors believe it is best to immobilize his foot. The Pirates are trying to determine whether to have him play winter ball.