Pirates designated INF/OF Delwyn Young for assignment.
Young plays poor defense, but he does offer some versatility with experience at second base and both corner outfield spots. He hasn't been able to hit with consistency at the major league level, but he's not a slouch at the plate and should be able to find a utility job somewhere.
Pirates designated 3B Andy LaRoche for assignment.
A former top prospect with the Dodgers, LaRoche never lived up to expectations in Pittsburgh, hitting only .206/.268/.287 in 247 at-bats in 2010. He had good on-base skills and decent power in his minor league career, but the skills simply haven't translated over to the major league level. Now 27, LaRoche should be able to catch on somewhere with a minor league deal.
Pirates designated LHP Zach Duke for assignment.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington said the team tried to negotiate a deal with Duke and also talked to other teams about a trade, but neither proved successful. Duke had a decent 2009 season but otherwise has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball since his impressive rookie year. The southpaw posted a 5.72 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 2010 and has a career K/9 rate of 4.7. He'll probably have to settle for a minor league deal with a spring training invite somewhere.