Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Is Brad Eldred's power potential enough to keep him with the Pirates this season? Click photo for larger image. Related articles Coming and going: Spring statistics for the six players added to the 25-man roster Pirates say $4 million left to spend in 2007 Pirates Notebook: Gorzelanny gets in gear Baseball 2007: McCutchen ahead of curve

BRADENTON, Fla. -- One day is left in the Pirates' spring training, and one extra player remains in camp.

Hence, there is one battle: Brad Eldred vs. Ryan Doumit.

Or no battle at all.

The shakedown from of a flurry of moves yesterday was this: Juan Perez, Jonah Bayliss and John Wasdin filled out the bullpen, with John Grabow going on the 15-day disabled list. And Jose Castillo, Nate McLouth and Mt. Lebanon's Don Kelly took the first three spots on the bench, with Jose Hernandez and Luis Matos getting released.

The only players left who have not been told their fate are Eldred, Doumit and Humberto Cota. Unless Cota is traded -- and there has been discussion to that effect -- he will make the team as the backup catcher. Eldred and Doumit, then, are the two men circling one chair.

Unless ...

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez's status remains undetermined, and the Pirates have not ruled out he will open the season on the 15-day disabled list. If that happens, Eldred and Doumit will make it.

If it comes to one or the other, Eldred is the clear favorite: He has batted .313 with six doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs. He also has belied a history of poor selection at the plate by drawing 11 walks in 75 plate appearances. He even convinced management he could move his 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame well enough to expand his defensive duties from first base to right field.

Doumit?

He has a .267 average in 36 plate appearances, with one home run, six RBIs and six walks. But he has two strikes against him: One, management repeatedly cites his history of injury. Two, he has spent most of the spring catching. If he were being groomed for a true bench role, he might have spent more time at first base and right field.

Each has power, which the Pirates desperately need, but Eldred has power that might be unparalleled in professional baseball.

Each also has options, meaning either could go to Class AAA Indianapolis.

A decision is expected today, once the Sanchez matter is settled.

Sanchez worked out his sprained right knee first by taking grounders at McKechnie Field in the mornin - no knee brace this time -- then by taking multiple at-bats while roaming through minor-league games at Pirate City.

Perhaps because he had no hits, he sounded frustrated.

"The knee felt fine," Sanchez said. "But it's the at-bats, you know? I've got to feel comfortable at the plate. I can't just go into major-league games not feeling comfortable."

The Pirates are leaning toward keeping Sanchez, if only to pinch-hit. The next, perhaps final test will come with in another minor-league game today.The most prominent surprise of the day was the addition of Kelly, a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School and Point Park University who will make his Major League Baseball debut with the team he cheered as a child.

Kelly had a hard time containing his happiness.

"The Lord leads you in different directions, and you have to trust your faith," he said. "He had a plan, and it brought me to Pittsburgh. I'm going home to play for the Buccos. ... It's like a dream come true."

In more ways than one.

Kelly, 27, split last season between Class AA and AAA in the Detroit Tigers' system and batted .250, his career taking a step backward after six years in the minors. But he caught the Pirates' eye right away this spring with sound defensive positioning and performance, nullifying a .257 average. And that, coupled with manager Jim Tracy's desire for a left-handed hitting infielder and Kelly's demonstration the past two days that he can play outfield, bounced Hernandez from the utility spot most felt was locked up.

"What one thing can I think of that Don Kelly hasn't done?" Tracy said. "The kid flat knows how to play the game."

Castillo, 25, kept his roster spot despite losing starting duty earlier in the spring, thanks largely to a .310 average and recent improvement. He will start at second in Sanchez's stead to open the season.

"I don't know what my position will be for the year," Castillo said. "But I don't care. I concentrate on good hitting and defense."

McLouth, 25, remained a reserve outfielder despite a .255 spring, mostly because Tracy likes his speed and defense.

"I'll hit, too," McLouth said.

The bullpen was settled Thursday night when the Pirates informed Dan Kolb he would not make the roster. But it was not until yesterday that it became official for Perez, Bayliss and Wasdin.

Perez, 28, was erratic after the Pirates claimed him off waivers last summer, but he did not allow an earned run all spring while striking out 11 batters in 8 1/3 innings. He credited mechanical changes he made this offseason in his native Dominican Republic.

"All I needed was control," Perez said. "I always believed in my stuff."

Bayliss, 26, overcame a pulled leg muscle and being struck on his pitching hand this spring to post a 2.70 ERA down the stretch. He had 23 saves as Indianapolis' closer last year.

"Overcoming everything that happened here makes this extra gratifying," Bayliss said.

Wasdin, 34, is a veteran of 316 major-league games but had not made an opening-day roster since 2001 with the Colorado Rockies. He quietly posted a 0.79 ERA and looked dominant in a three-inning outing Tuesday that solidified his status.

The main reason he made it: Management is worried about too many relievers throwing too few strikes this spring, and Wasdin showed fine control.

"They told me I pitched my way onto this team," Wasdin said. "I'll do whatever they ask, and I'll give my heart and soul to it."

Hernandez and Matos each said they will pursue other major-league opportunities, but each also left open the possibility of accepting the Pirates' invitation to play for Indianapolis if nothing else arises.

Hernandez, 37, batted .300 and said he was "surprised" not to return for a third tour with the Pirates.

Tracy long has counted Hernandez among his favorites, including their time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he became visibly emotional when describing how it felt to break the news.

"It was very, very difficult," Tracy said.

Matos, 28, played fine defense and hit .286, but the Pirates were put off by a lack of pop at the plate.

The handling of Kolb was slightly different.

Technically, the Pirates reassigned Kolb to Indianapolis even though the opt-out clause in Kolb's contract allowed him to declare free agency at midnight Thursday. In reality, the Pirates are giving Kolb time to pursue other major-league opportunities and hoping, ultimately, he will go to Indianapolis to provide insurance.

Kolb is weighing the Pirates' offer seriously, agent Damon Lapa said, but he also heard from three other teams yesterday.

Grabow's placement on the disabled list was backdated to March 23, meaning he can come off April 7 for the Pirates' fifth game.

There is no guarantee he will be ready by then, but Grabow repeated yesterday that his sore left elbow "feels great," and he is scheduled to pitch bullpen sessions today and Monday.

Because the minor-league contracts of Kelly and Wasdin had to be purchased, the 40-man roster is full.