NEW YORK -- Neither Jeromy Burnitz nor Joe Randa has asked the Pirates for a trade.

But neither sounds as if he would be terribly troubled if one were to happen.

Check out Burnitz's typically candid response to a question on the matter yesterday:

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (46-38) beat Columbus, 7-3. LHP Sean Burnett (6-6, 5.30) allowed two runs and four hits in four innings. He struck out three, walked two and threw 50 of 90 pitches for strikes. LHP Mike Johnston (6.02) pitched three scoreless innings of relief. CF Chris Duffy (.312) was 2 for 4 with a triple, a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base. ALTOONA (48-35) lost at Reading, 5-2. RHP Matt Peterson (5-6, 5.84) allowed five runs in four innings. LYNCHBURG (37-44) and Salem were rained out. HICKORY (37-44) lost to Augusta, 16-2. RHP Todd Redmond (6-5, 2.88) allowed seven runs, four earned, in four innings. LF Jason Delaney (.298) hit his fourth home run. CF Andrew McCutchen (.271) went 0 for 1 and left the game in the third for unspecified reasons. WILLIAMSPORT (6-7) beat Batavia, 2-1. RHP Jared Hughes (1-1, 1.89) pitched six scoreless innings and allowed one hit.

"I think it would be a great opportunity, as it is every year, if you're not on a team that's doing well, to get traded to one that has an obviously better opportunity to win," he said. "Yes, that's a positive. Absolutely. That's not to say anything negative about the team I'm on. It's just the situation as it is."

Asked to elaborate on the latter, Burnitz added: "Everybody who's a part of this expected to be more competitive. Now, I'm not going to sit here and tell you I honestly felt like the Pirates were going to go all Banzai into the playoffs. My mind-set, based on what I saw of the players and pitchers before, was that there always was that possibility. It looked like a good base of players. But the hopes were definitely higher than how it's worked out."

Randa was no less straightforward on his outlook for Major League Baseball's July 31 trade deadline.

"I look at it like I'm just ready for whatever happens," he said. "I know the trade deadline is coming up, and I know that this team, the way it's set right now ... things happen. Obviously, I want to play. I know my role on this team, and I've accepted that, but I'm working to prepare myself for whatever might come in the future."

Burnitz, 37, was the Pirates' highest-paid free-agent signing in the offseason with a $6 million salary. Randa, 36, was the second-highest at $4 million.

Randa back in form

Randa's average was down to .221 when he went on the disabled list for a fractured right foot and related inflammation.

In his 16 games since returning, he is batting .363 -- 12 for 33-- and, more important, back to ramming the ball to the gaps as he has throughout his career.

"I feel like I'm having good at-bats," he said. "I have tweaked some things to my approach because it's obviously a different role I'm in now. I'm still aggressive, but I've been hitting my pitch the past two weeks. I'm driving the ball. And I feel I would've been doing this a long time ago if I hadn't gotten hurt."

Randa described his foot as not fully healed because of degenerative arthritis in the joint near the fracture, calling the condition "probably something I'll have to deal with the rest of my career."

"It still flares up when we fly, but it's definitely something I can handle now. I'm beyond the point where I have to worry about putting pressure on it."

Santos to bullpen?

When Victor Santos was placed on the disabled list June 18, he still was a member of the rotation. That might no longer be the case.

Asked if Santos will regain his status as starter after returning -- he is making a rehabilitation start for Class AAA Indianapolis tonight -- manager Jim Tracy said only that the matter is open.

"Will there be a discussion? Absolutely," Tracy said. "I don't want to jump the gun on something like that."

Buried treasure

The Pirates are the first team in baseball history to lose 25 one-run games by the Fourth of July, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The previous high was 24 by the 1971 Houston Astros.

Tracy said he wipes the slate clean when dealing with umpires the day after a bitter confrontation such as the one between the Pirates and Angel Hernandez Tuesday: "Always. That's the professionalism that's involved."

New York left fielder Cliff Floyd, who sustained a mild concussion Tuesday after his head struck shortstop Jose Reyes' knee while chasing a popup, was back in the Mets' lineup last night.