PIRATES Wilson's future still in question as season nears

After a career-best 2004 season, he finds himself on the team's bench this year.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Craig Wilson was so valuable to the Pittsburgh Pirates two years ago, he didn't get a day off until mid-July.
A team with one of the majors' least-imposing lineups didn't dare take his bat out of the lineup, not even for a day. Despite striking out a club-record 169 times in 2004, Wilson had 29 homers and 82 RBIs while playing half the time in PNC Park, which was designed to reward left-handed hitters and penalize right-handed pull hitters such as Wilson.
The frustration Wilson repeatedly felt that season when long drives were swallowed up by one of baseball's most spacious left field power alleys has been replaced this spring by a different kind of disappointment.
Doesn't know where he fits
With opening day two weeks away, Wilson doesn't know where he fits into a Pirates club that still needs power and run producers -- but, for now, has decided to put him and his $3.3 million salary on the bench.
After Wilson missed all but 59 games last season with a pair of left hand injuries, the Pirates added veteran starters at each of his two primary positions, first base (Sean Casey) and right field (Jeromy Burnitz). Since then, Wilson has heard his name mentioned repeatedly in trade talk, yet general manager Dave Littlefield has yet to do a deal.
Despite being told he will get plenty of at-bats -- and he has this spring -- Wilson wonders where they will come from when the games start counting, since Casey and Burnitz rarely take days off.
"I guess you could say it's not something you see around the league very often," Wilson said of being sent to the bench despite being productive when he plays. "It is a little unusual."
The Pirates decided to bench Wilson, who averages a homer every 19.67 at-bats, despite coming off a 95-loss season in which they ranked 22nd in the majors with 139 homers. Burnitz could help there -- he has averaged 30 homers the last three seasons -- but Casey is more of a contact hitter and had nine homers last season for Cincinnati.
Expects to be traded
Wilson knows the Pirates aren't paying him to be an occasional starter and pinch-hitter, so he waits to see where -- and, possibly, for whom -- he will play.
"I'm 29," he said. "It would definitely be nice to be able to come to the park and know I'm going to play 'X' position and be the starting outfielder, first baseman or pitcher. I'd even be the fullback" -- a reference to playing baseball in a city best known for its football.
Wilson isn't lobbying to be dealt, but doesn't envision himself as a utility player after waiting 61/2 seasons in the minors before getting to the majors in 2001.
"I remember when Jason Kendall was here, the talk was always that he's getting traded, he's getting traded, he's getting traded -- what, for three years?" Wilson said. "You're not going to sit here and worry about it. It's rumors, it's smoke, until you actually see fire."
Wilson doesn't know how he fits in new manager Jim Tracy's plans. Tracy likes to play one-run-at-a-time ball: get a runner on, get a runner in.
Gets on base a lot
That style seemingly doesn't fit a player who strikes out a lot, yet it rewards players who get on base a lot -- and Wilson does that by walking frequently and getting hit by pitches. His .387 on-base percentage in an injury-reduced 197 at-bats last season was higher than that of the team's most-used leadoff hitter, Matt Lawton (.380).
For now, Tracy is saying only, "He's a valuable guy and the kind of guy you want around." Wilson said all he cares about is playing.
"I've had a great five years here so far, and I wouldn't mind playing here another five," Wilson said. "But if it ends up I'm going somewhere else to play, I'll toss on their jersey and go out and play the same as I would here. Playing is pretty much the operative word. It's not as much fun sitting and watching."