BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates reduced their roster to 29 this morning by assigning reliever Giovanni Carrara to minor-league camp in a surprise move.

Carrara, 38, pitched four of the past five years in Los Angeles under current manager Jim Tracy and entered camp as an apparent lock to make the team, even though he was a non-roster invitee. But he had a 9.00 earned run average and never appeared comfortable after returning from the World Baseball Classic, where he represented Venezuela.

"From what we've seen, his performance is not up to what it has been in the past," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "Hopefully, he can get it back."

"I wasn't myself," Carrara said. "I was leaving every single pitch high. I've got to work on it."

Carrara's demotion might clear the way for another veteran, Terry Adams, to make the team. Tracy has said he wants two long relievers, and Adams and Ryan Vogelsong are the only ones left in camp who are being used in that role. Adams, 33, has a 5.14 ERA in seven appearances.

Two other veterans also are possibilites. Brandon Duckworth and Victor Santos have been battling for the lone vacancy in the rotation, and the loser could end up in the bullpen.

First Published: March 30, 2006, 5:00 a.m.