For the first time in nine years, the Pirates are shopping for an everyday catcher.

There is no official announcement scheduled on the trade of Jason Kendall to the Oakland Athletics, but the two pitchers the Pirates will receive in return -- starter Mark Redman and reliever Arthur Rhodes -- were in town yesterday for physicals.

The results of those physicals, which are the final formalities in completing the deal, will likely not be known until today and an announcement may not be made until Monday. Rhodes, 35, was given a diagnostic test on his left elbow and nothing was found to negate the deal.

The trade, which became known Wednesday, carries with it conflicting realities.

On the one hand, the Pirates get out from under a substantial chunk of the $34 million owed to Kendall over the next three seasons as part of the six-year, $60 million contract extension he was given prior to the 2001 season.

The team is expected to realize a net savings of about $15 million in the next three years, which it can use toward signing other players. They also acquire a starter in Redman to bolster a thin rotation.

But on the minus side, the Pirates lose their most dependable player. Kendall is a three-time All-Star and an improved defensive player who has caught more games than anyone else in the majors the past few seasons.

Kendall's backup last year was Humberto Cota, who hit .227 with five homers and eight RBIs in 36 games. J.R. House, also 25, saw limited duty with the Pirates but lacks the arm strength needed to be a full-time catcher, according to some scouts.

Because no one else in the minor-league system is ready to catch in the majors, the Pirates will likely seek a dependable veteran through free agency or trade. Ideally, that would be a player who can catch 100 or so games at a reasonable price.

One such candidate would be Charles Johnson of the Rockies, who lost his starting job last season to J.D. Closser in August. Johnson makes $9 million next season, but the Rockies are willing to eat some of that contract. He would be a good fit as a short-term solution and would be attractive to the Pirates if their total obligation is in the $2 million range.

Free agents Jason Varitek of the Red Sox and Mike Matheny of the Cardinals are out of the team's price range. Another free agent is Henry Blanco, who turned down a two-year, $1.8 million offer to stay with the Twins.

Blanco is a defensive specialist who hit .206 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs in 114 games.

Tampa Bay's Toby Hall is reportedly available. Hall, 29, is eligible for salary arbitration after he hit .255 with eight homers and 60 RBIs in 119 games last season.