BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates this morning chose Victor Santos as their fifth starter and reduced their roster to 27 by cutting starter Brandon Duckworth and outfielder Jody Gerut.

Outfielder Nate McLouth, reliever Matt Capps and utilityman Jose Hernandez were told they made the team. Hernandez's minor-league contract -- which will pay him $850,000 at the major-league level -- was purchased from Class AAA Indianapolis.

Two moves remain to be made before 25-man rosters are required to be set at midnight tomorrow.

Santos, 29, was 0-2 this spring with a 6.27 ERA and gave up 33 hits in 18 2/3 innings. He beat out Duckworth, 30, who was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings, and will start the second game of the season Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Duckworth was reassigned to minor-league camp. Gerut was optioned to Indianapolis.

The most surprising move was the demotion of Gerut, who batted .349, including a 10-for-22 roll to close the spring, and was The Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year in 2003 while with the Cleveland Indians.

He has been slowed by knee surgeries since then, though, and the team told him he did not provide the speed off the bench they had been seeking..

"They're putting me up against the picture of me that they had as a rookie, and it isn't quite there yet," Gerut said. "They want the same guy. That's going to take some time until I'm healthy enough. They don't think I am."

His demotion cleared the way for the fleet-footed McLouth, who batted .352 with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs, and had a team-best seven steals.

Capps, 22, made the roster after a superb spring in which he posted a 1.13 ERA in eight appearances.

Two bullpen spots remain undecided, one of those because of the uncertain health status of Damaso Marte. He is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. Terry Adams and C.J. Nitkowski remain in the fold in case he is unable to perform to the team's satisfaction.

Starter Bryan Bullington, recovering from shoulder surgery, was placed on the 60-day disabled list.