It's a daily occurrence. Maybe even an hourly occurrence because the non-waiver trading deadline is less than a week away.

This player's going there. That player's coming here. This player isn't going anywhere.

Distracting?

"It might be," Pirates manager John Russell said, "but you don't sense it with these guys. This is a great bunch of guys. They have fun with it. They joke about it on the bench.

"We know it's there. They know it's there."

One of the more recent bits of trade talk was in the New York Post, which called the Pirates' asking price for Damaso Marte or Xavier Nady "exorbitant."

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Minor-league report

Thursday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (50-56) beat Charlotte, 8-3. RHP Jimmy Barthmaier (3-1, 3.71) was forced to leave after two-thirds of an inning when a line drive struck his right wrist. He allowed one run and two hits. RHP Mike Thompson (5.03) allowed two runs, one earned, and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. 3B Neil Walker (.238) went 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. LF Nyjer Morgan (.271) went 2 for 5 with an RBI and a steal. CF Andrew McCutchen (.280) went 1 for 4 with a steal. 1B Steve Pearce (.258) went 0 for 3 with a walk.

ALTOONA (47-57) beat Akron, 3-1. RHP Dan Reichert (1-1, 3.55) allowed one run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. 1B Jason Delaney (.296) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

LYNCHBURG (46-57) was off.

HICKORY (41-62) was off.

STATE COLLEGE (8-25) had a doubleheader rained out at Lowell.

BRADENTON (16-12) lost to the Twins, 11-1. LHP Nelson Pereira (1-2, 1.50) allowed three runs, one earned, and four hits in three innings. C Miguel Mendez (.400) went 1 for 4 with a double.

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The Post also said the Pirates like New York Yankees reliever Ross Ohlendorf, a right-hander who turns 26 Aug. 8 and has a 6.53 earned run average in 40 innings.

Maholm saves bullpen

The Pirates' bullpen had to pick up six innings Wednesday because of Ian Snell's early exit, but Russell said the bullpen was in good shape heading into the game last night.

"[Paul] Maholm's game really saved us," Russell said, referring to the left-hander's eight-inning effort Tuesday night.

Big Gossage fan

Russell was a Texas teammate of Goose Gossage, who will be inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1991.

"One of the most intense and fierce pitchers," Russell said. "And one of the greatest guys to hang with. He was a consummate old-school baseball guy."

Russell also batted against Gossage during his career.

"I hit a hanging slider -- a broken-bat soft liner over shortstop [for a single]," Russell said. "He cussed me out. He said, 'Why did you hit that?' I said, 'Why did you hang it?' "

Woof 'em down

Beginning Wednesday against Colorado, the Pirates will offer "Dollar Dogs" on each of the four remaining Wednesday home dates this season.

On those dates, regular hot dogs will cost just $1.

After Wednesday, the Pirates' other three Wednesday dates are Aug. 13 against Cincinnati, Aug. 27 against the Chicago Cubs and Sept. 17 against Los Angeles.

Barthmaier injured

Jimmy Barthmaier, a starter at Class AAA Indianapolis, was struck on the right wrist -- on his throwing arm -- by a line drive and forced to leave after two-thirds of an inning. Kyle Stark, director of player development, had no further information last night. He is scheduled to have an X-ray this morning.

Barthmaier, 24, is a member of the 40-man roster. He made a spot start for the Pirates June 27 and lost his major league debut, giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Buried treasure

• Shortstop Jack Wilson, in a 2-for-25 slide, didn't start last night. "Just giving him a chance to get away from it," Russell said.

• Class AA Altoona, with its 3-1 win against Akron yesterday, is 23-5 when its starting pitcher provides at least six innings. Right-hander Dan Reichert worked 7 1/3 innings yesterday.

• San Diego right-hander Greg Maddux hasn't won in 14 starts since May 10. "It stinks losing, but it's still fun to play,"

Maddux, 42, told the San Diego Union Tribune after his start Wednesday in Cincinnati. "I'd rather play and lose than not play."

• Right-hander Cha Seung Baek, scheduled to start for San Diego tonight, moved into the Padres' rotation in June. In five starts last month, he was 0-3 with a 5.65 ERA.

In three July starts, however, he is 1-1 and has yielded only 14 hits and four earned runs in 17 1/3 innings.