Bucs waste no time moving Barmes around infield

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Clint Barmes started at shortstop, batting second, in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. He's slated to start at second base, batting ninth, in Saturday's game against the Rays at McKechnie Field.

With Jordy Mercer expected to be the club's everyday shortstop, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said to expect to see Barmes playing a little bit of everything. He wasn't kidding, either. Barmes began working out at third base on Saturday and he'll continue bouncing around the infield throughout Spring Training.

"He's going to move around. He's going to play second, third. You can read into it whatever you want," Hurdle said. "We're going to move him around that utility/middle position. We're going to move him around and get him more exposure at other places."

Barmes, who turns 35 next week, was in essence exclusively a shortstop each of the last three seasons, but said recently that he was "excited for the chance to move all over." As Hurdle pointed out, Barmes played plenty of second base and moved around the diamond during his years in Colorado. He hasn't seen nearly as much time at third base, however.

To help prepare for that part of his new job, Barmes has been getting in more work at third base before games and will see some game action at third base as well, according to Hurdle.