Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Neil Walker: Keep his bat on track. Click photo for larger image.

A year ago at Major League Baseball's trading deadline, the Pirates' clubhouse was a tense, tight place. Most players -- everyone save Craig Wilson, in fact -- displayed a genuine eagerness to remain in Pittsburgh and be part of what they felt was a positive future.

Tuesday, the scene was stark in its difference.

As the clock ticked toward the 4 p.m. deadline, most of the handful of players known to be on the trading block -- and even some who were not -- made clear their desire to be tapped on the shoulder and handed a plane ticket. No one was exactly trumpeting it, even though this team already has had its share of players publicly asking out, but suffice it to say the sentiment was palpable.

And, when the only player getting such a tap was reserve outfielder Rajai Davis, some of those same players expressed visible disappointment.

What does that signify?

Each individual case is different, of course. Salomon Torres has his grievance. Jose Castillo wants to be a starter. Jack Wilson had visions of joining a winner for the first time in his career. The rest choose to keep their feelings on the matter private.

But this should be known, too: The Pirates' clubhouse is pretty much a friction-free atmosphere. The players get along fine, and the core group of leaders -- though lacking a focal point -- genuinely care about winning.

Moreover, many of these players -- including Torres, Castillo and Wilson -- also say they are quite comfortable in PNC Park, in the city, with this group of teammates, and they would welcome the chance to stay under better circumstances.

It can be a strange place.

Speaking of youth ...

Now that the Pirates have added 33-year-old Matt Morris to a roster that gets older with each transaction, it would appear that is the direction at hand. How else to explain Matt Kata making those four starts in a row at third base two weeks ago, when Castillo was on the bench?

At the same time, what if the team infused some serious youth in September? Some wheels are in motion ...

The most prominent player who could be part of the expanded roster is first baseman Steve Pearce, who is having a Herculean year in the minors with 26 home runs and 98 RBIs. He was promoted to Class AAA Indianapolis early this week, and the firm goal that has been put forth for him there is to do well enough in August that he finds his way to Pittsburgh for the final month.

Center fielder Nyjer Morgan, who is not young at 27 but is quite inexperienced in baseball after growing up on hockey rinks, has been issued much the same goal. He was off to a dynamic start as Indianapolis' leadoff man, batting .308 with a .379 on-base percentage, but his season was derailed May 13 by a broken thumb. He could be back on the field this week.

Brian Bixler, the top shortstop prospect, has a chance, too, especially if Wilson is dealt.

Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen? Probably not this year.

Dying alive in July

If the Pirates' July seemed like a thoroughly rotten time, that might be because ...

They went 7-17 for a .292 winning percentage. That was their worst full month since ... well, April of last year, when they were 7-19.

They scored 90 runs, fewest in the majors.

They drew only 45 walks, only 20 more than Barry Bonds drew.

Matt Capps was perfect in save opportunities ... both times.

Jason Bay went without a double in 82 at-bats, three fewer than Kata.

Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny, the staff horses previously, went a combined 2-6 with a 6.84 ERA.

Walker bound to hot corner

Is there a catcher in the house?

Ronny Paulino has had huge struggles defensively. Ryan Doumit looks markedly better in right field than behind the plate. And there is no catcher of note in the minor-league system, all the way down to Class A, with journeymen handling the duties at Indianapolis and Altoona.

Looks like the Pirates blew it in moving Walker to third base this spring, right?

Maybe, maybe not.

At the time of the switch, the team's public take was that it wanted to get Walker's promising bat -- .288, 12 home runs, 55 RBIs with Altoona so far -- to the majors as quickly as possible. And they specified that meant not having him blocked by Paulino, who was coming off a .310 rookie year.

At that same time, more than one team official expressed concern about Walker's ability to catch at the major-league level and, rather than explain a young prospect's switch in a negative light, they chose to focus on Paulino.

Bottom line: Walker is staying at third base. Despite 24 errors, all concern insist he is faring quite well.