BRADENTON, Fla. — Neil Huntington readily admits the obvious: That Andrew McCutchen and Brian Bixler have been two of the most outstanding players in the Pirates’ spring training camp.

However, being outstanding wasn’t enough for either rookie to make the opening-day roster, as both will begin the season at Class AAA Indianapolis.

Bixler, an infielder, was optioned to the Indians on Monday before the Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 in an exhibition game at McKechnie Field while McCutchen, an outfielder, was technically reassigned to the minor-league camp as he is not on the 40-man roster.

“They both made our decisions very difficult,” said Huntington, the Pirates general manager.

“Both also reaffirmed our belief in their ceilings as above-average everyday players in the major leagues. Both showed us signs on what we had hoped to see this spring and also what we hope to see in the future.

“Both had great springs, but you also have to look at the entire body of work when making decisions about players’ futures. When you look back to last season, you can see they still need to do some work at Class AAA level to make themselves better players.

“That being said, I would expect you will see both players in Pittsburgh at some point in the 2009 season.”

Bixler hit .345 (20-for-58) with two doubles and three triples in exhibition games.

McCutchen hit .318 (21-for-66) with six doubles, two triples and two home runs while also collecting hits in each of his final six at-bats, including a 5-for-5 game last Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bixler, 26, hit .280 with seven home runs, 36 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in

86 games with Indianapolis last season, but .157 with two RBIs in 50 games with the Pirates. McCutchen, 22, had a .283 batting average, nine homers, 50 RBIs and 34 steals in 135 games with Indianapolis but was also caught stealing an International League-high 19 times.

McCutchen’s departure to minor-league camp likely means Nyjer Morgan will be the left fielder and leadoff hitter, which was the Pirates’ original plan when spring training began.

Morgan has struggled this spring, hitting .203 with a .250 on-base percentage, but it seems unlikely the Pirates will go with a platoon of left-handed hitting Eric Hinske and right-hander hitting Craig Monroe in left.

Luis Cruz is the last candidate left for the second utility infielder’s spot now that Bixler has been sent down but the Pirates are looking at possibly acquiring someone else for that job.

q q q

Trade talk: The Pirates are pursuing a trade for Tampa Bay right-hander Jeff Niemann, who is out of minor-league options and must be exposed to waivers if the Rays try to send him to the minor leagues. It is not clear if the Pirates would use him as a starter or reliever.

The Pirates are also trying to acquire a right-handed hitting infielder to serve at the second utility infielder and have interest in the Colorado Rockies’ Jeff Baker and Florida Marlins’ Robert Andino.

Meanwhile, the Pirates acquired minor-league left-hander Shawn Nottingham from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named. Nottingham, 24, is expected to be assigned to Class AA Altoona after going 3-4 with a 4.58 ERA in 14 starts with high Class A Kinston last season and 0-2 with a 7.09 ERA in 19 relief appearances with Class AA Akron.

q q q

Game report: Rookie backup catcher Jason Jaramillo’s RBI single capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Pirates the win. Jeff Salazar’s run-scoring single tied the game.

Jaramillo is 3-for-8 since being told Saturday that he had made the opening-day roster after going 4-for-28 to start the spring.

“You can tell he’s a lot more relaxed now that he knows he’s going north with the club,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “He’s been putting in a lot of work with (hitting coach) Don Long.”

Chris Bootcheck (1-0) got the win by pitching one scoreless inning.

Ross Ohlendorf started and allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. His spring ERA is 0.87 as he has given up just two runs in 20 2/3 innings.

Denny Bautista pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Jesse Chavez gave up one run in one inning.

The Pirates were held to five hits, but still improved their Grapefruit League record to 16-12.