Tike Redman, once considered the Pirates' center fielder of the future, now has no future with the team.

Neither, it appears, do outfielder Michael Restovich, infielder Bobby Hill and minor-league right-hander Jeff Miller.

All four were designated for assignment as the Pirates set their 40-man protected roster. The Pirates have 10 days to trade any or all of the four or release them.

Hill, who batted .269 in 58 games for the Pirates before being sent to Class AAA Indianapolis just after the All-Star break, probably has the best chance to be traded within those 10 days.

Promoted to the 40-man roster were right-handed reliever Josh Sharpless, from Freedom and Allegheny College, infielders Craig Stansberry and Javier Guzman and utility player Yurendell De Caster.

The Pirates also reinstated pitchers Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten, second baseman Jose Castillo and center fielder Chris Duffy from the 60-day disabled list. All four were on the 40-man roster.

Players drafted out of high school who have played four professional seasons and college draftees who have played three seasons professionally and who are not on the 40-man roster are eligible to be picked in the Rule Five draft next month.

A quick look at those players in the Pirates' system who are eligible for the Rule Five draft reveals the team isn't likely to be hurt in that process.

Sharpless, the Pirates' 24th pick in the 2003 draft, pitched primarily for Class A Lynchburg -- where he didn't allow an earned run in 27 innings -- and was promoted to Class AA Altoona June 12. He appeared in seven games before arm trouble ended his season.

Stansberry, a fifth-round pick in 2003, spent most of the season with Altoona after being promoted from Lynchburg May 3. The second baseman batted just .238 for the Curve but had 22 doubles, 11 triples, 18 home runs and 67 RBIs in 421 at-bats.

Guzman, Stansberry's double-play partner at Altoona after joining the Curve from Lynchburg June 20, batted .236 for Altoona and greatly improved defensively at shortstop.

De Caster, a right-handed batter plucked from Tampa Bay in the Rule Five draft in 2000, can play every position except catcher. For Indianapolis, he batted .280 with 11 home runs and 61 RBIs in 415 at-bats.

"I think his [best] position is at third base -- or first base," Indianapolis hitting instructor Hensley Meulens said. "But [his versatility] is a great asset for him. I think his bat has the potential to hit in the big leagues."

NOTES -- Jeff Cox, most recently the Florida Marlins' third base coach, could be named the Pirates' third base coach. Cox, who managed in the Pirates' minor-league system in 1987-88, wasn't retained by new Marlins manager Joe Girardi. Like manager Jim Tracy and general manager Dave Littlefield, Cox worked in the Montreal organization (1999-2001).