PIRATES Burnett, Gorzelanny are demoted to Indianapolis

First baseman Brad Eldred will open at Triple A.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Left-handers Sean Burnett and Tom Gorzelanny, two of the Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospects, were optioned to Triple-A among 11 roster cuts Tuesday -- leaving two non-roster pitchers competing for the final two spots in the season-opening rotation.
Also sent down to Indianapolis was first baseman Brad Eldred, who hit 12 homers in 190 at-bats with the Pirates late last season.
The Pirates traded for first baseman Sean Casey partly so the 25-year-old Eldred could get more time in the minors after hitting 40 homers but striking out 159 times in 469 at-bats in Double-A, Triple-A and the majors last season.
"All these guys are going to get an opportunity this year at some point," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "I just think we need to give the innings now to the guys who are closer to getting to the big leagues."
Other cuts
Also optioned to Triple-A were outfielder Rajai Davis and infielder Yurendell DeCaster. Reassigned to the minor league camp were six non-roster players: right-handers Matt Whiteside, Ron Chiavacci and Nerio Rodriguez, catcher Carlos Maldonado, and infielders Gookie Dawkins and Jason Alfaro.
The pitching moves leave right-handers Brandon Duckworth and Victor Santos in the running to join left-handers Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Oliver Perez and right-handed rookie Ian Snell in one of baseball's youngest rotations. Right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, previously in contention to start, will begin the season as a long reliever.
The 23-year-old Maholm (3-1, 2.18 ERA last season) remains a rookie despite pitching in 16 Pirates games last season, while the 22-year-old Duke went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA following his midseason call-up last season. The 24-year-old Perez has spent only two full seasons in the majors, but had a 2.98 ERA with 239 strikeouts in 2004.