The Pirates are one of five teams pursuing Colorado Rockies first baseman Ryan Shealy through a trade.

Shealy, 26, spent the entire season with Class AAA Colorado Springs before being recalled Monday to participate in the current series.

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Tuesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (52-42) lost to Norfolk, 7-2. RHP Ryan Vogelsong (1-1, 3.29) allowed six runs, five earned, and nine hits in four innings. He struck out one, walked three, hit a batter and threw 49 of 79 pitches for strikes. RHP Josh Sharpless (2.39) allowed one run in two innings. CF Chris Duffy (.293) went 1 for 4 with a double, a walk and an RBI. He also was caught stealing and picked off. ALTOONA (53-40) lost at Akron, 2-1, in 10 innings. RHP Wardell Starling (2-1, 3.07) allowed one run in six innings. 3B Brandon Chaves (.250) went 3 for 4. LYNCHBURG (38-55) lost to Winston-Salem, 4-0. RHP Derek Hankins (3-8, 4.24) allowed three runs, two earned, in six innings. C Neil Walker (.249) went 1 or 3. HICKORY (46-49) lost to Delmarva, 8-3, to end its eight-game winning streak. RHP Joe Bauserman (4-8, 4.12) allowed six runs in two innings. LF Jason Delaney (.305) went 3 for 4. CF Andrew McCutchen (.281) went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI and committed his sixth error. WILLIAMSPORT (8-17) lost at Staten Island, 5-4. RHP Patrick Bresnehan (0-4, 3.65) allowed four runs, two earned, in three innings. 3B Jared Keel (.444) went 3 for 5.

A 6-foot-5 right-handed hitter with some pop, he batted .284 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs in 58 games in the minors, and the consensus is that he would have been with the Rockies already if not for the formidable presence of Todd Helton at first base.

Shealy spent 36 games with the Rockies last season and batted .330 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 91 at-bats.

The other teams talking to Colorado are the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals. The Rockies are known to need bullpen help, and the Pirates feel they have plenty of that to give.

Yankees seek Hernandez

The New York Yankees narrowly missed signing Roberto Hernandez as a free agent last winter, falling $250,000 short of the Pirates' $2.75 million, one-year contract offer.

Even now, it seems, they still want him in pinstripes.

An industry source in New York yesterday confirmed the Yankees and Pirates have had discussions about a trade that would send Hernandez to the Bronx. General manager Dave Littlefield's asking price was not clear, but it is possible, another source said, that Littlefield could ask the Yankees to absorb outfielder Jeromy Burnitz's contract as part of any deal.

Hernandez, 41, pitched well in the New York spotlight last season -- for the Mets -- and the Yankees apparently believe he can help their bullpen.

Burnitz's cost

Moving Burnitz's contract will be plenty difficult. In addition to the roughly $2.5 million in salary he is owed, he would be due a $700,000 buyout of his contract for next year, plus a $500,000 payment for being traded.

That makes it highly likely the Pirates would have to foot a good portion of the bill, as they did last year in assuming half of outfielder Matt Lawton's remaining pay when he was sent to the Chicago Cubs.

Still quiet on Casey

Neither first baseman Sean Casey nor his agent has received word from the Pirates regarding a contract extension, a further sign he is likely to be dealt by the July 31 deadline.

The Giants have interest in Casey and, to a lesser extent, outfielder Craig Wilson. But the Giants apparently have not yet gotten the green light from the Pirates to pursue Casey.

No-go on Gonzo

Contrary to repeated reports on one national television network, the Pirates are not involved in trade talks regarding closer Mike Gonzalez.

Buried treasure

The highest Nielsen ratings for the All-Star Game last week came in the Pittsburgh market, with 34 percent of all in-use television sets tuned in. That local rating was the highest measured by Nielsen for any of the eight All-Star Games broadcast by Fox.

Although the Texas Rangers scouted Kip Wells' strong showing Monday, they are not pursuing a trade for him.

Gonzalez was cleared to pitch after a minor groin strain -- plus having pitched in three consecutive games -- kept manager Jim Tracy from using him in a save situation Monday.

Matt Capps notched the save that night, but Tracy cautioned against reading into that as a sign that Capps could become a closer. "I don't want to jump the gun on something like that," Tracy said.