Kris Benson threw on the side yesterday as part of his normal routine to make his next start, and he's listed as the starting pitcher for a game Saturday in Milwaukee. But he is expected to be traded before then, and the Pirates have made contingency plans to have another pitcher ready.

The Twins remain the front-runner in the Benson trade talks, but they have not signed off yet on the player the Pirates want -- outfielder Jason Kubel, a Class AAA center fielder who is hitting .351 with 21 doubles, 7 home runs and 41 RBIs in 58 games at Rochester and is considered ready to play at the major-league level. If the Twins agree, the trade likely would be completed quickly.

Benson still hasn't been officially told he will be traded, but he's working on that assumption.

"It's no different than it has been for the past month," he said yesterday. "Now that I know I'm not going to be on the team, I'd like to have a resolution."

Greg Clifton, who represents Benson, said Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield is holding out for the best offer before the 4 p.m. trading deadline Saturday. "Basically, it's a question of where, not if," Clifton said of Benson moving to another team.

"Dave's doing good job of maximizing his value. He's got every right to get as much value in return. It's a business as well as a sport, and this is one time where the business takes precedence."

Manager Lloyd McClendon would not say what the contingency plans are for Saturday. But the logical choice to pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers is Ryan Vogelsong, who was dropped from the rotation a month ago and moved to long relief.

Vogelsong said he would throw on the side today if he did not get into the game last night. "I've kept working out. I don't think I've lost much arm strength," he said.

Vogelsong has made five relief appearances, allowing two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, since his previous start June 23 against Houston.