SAN FRANCISCO -- The Pirates' Latin American class of 2008 is complete, with one addition and one temporary subtraction.

The July-August international signing period for 16-year-olds ended with a seven-player class capped by the recent contract agreement with Mexican right-handed pitcher Roberto Espinoza. Another in that class, Dominican left-handed pitcher Joldi Sierra, must sit out a year for having false age documents, as per Major League Baseball rules, but he will remain the team's property.

Rene Gayo, the Pirates' Latin American scouting director, called this "the best class of my career" in large part because of the potential of Mexican outfielder Exicardo Cayones and Dominican shortstop Jodanelli Carvajal. Gayo likened the latter's tools to those of Rafael Furcal, notably his arm strength and speed.

"I'm pumped up about all of them," he said.

No dollar figure was available for the Pirates' spending on the class, other than that it is believed to have exceeded $1 million for the first time. That still would be well below what most teams are spending in the increasingly expensive market. Cayones' $400,000 bonus was the highest in franchise history, and Colombian shortstop Jonathan Barrios also received a six-figure bonus.

Shortstop Jack Wilson missed a fourth game because of his bruised index finger, and it is unclear when he will return. The lingering swelling there has kept him from throwing -- his only restriction -- and there is no timetable for that.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez was back after being rested a day for that off-and-on inflamed rotator cuff in the right shoulder.

"He's not going to play every single day," manager John Russell said.

Sanchez expressed optimism that, after two prescribed months of rest this offseason, he will have time to get the shoulder into shape for next spring training.

Two 17-year-old prospects on the Pirates' Venezuelan Summer League team -- first baseman Kelly Aponte and pitcher Julio Joves -- were suspended 50 games each by MLB for use of Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Those were part of 12 such suspensions issued yesterday, and all will take effect from the start of next season.

It marked the first time the Pirates had a minor league player suspended since 2006 and brought their four-year total to nine.

• Russell was asked if he might manage differently depending on whether the Pirates are facing a team in the playoff hunt. "We'll play the same guys in Cincinnati that we'll play here or anywhere or else," he replied. "We're going to try to win every night." Russell's predecessor, Jim Tracy, regularly stressed wanting to use his best lineups against contenders.

• Ray Searage, pitching coach at Class AAA Indianapolis and the only surviving member of that staff, joined the Pirates to assist Jeff Andrews and will remain the rest of the season.

• Nyjer Morgan, a San Francisco native, had his father, Carl, watching in the stands. It was in the Bay area where Morgan began his hockey career before switching to baseball in 2000.