The Pirates yesterday completed manager John Russell's staff by hiring Lou Frazier as first base coach.

Frazier, 42, spent the past four years as minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator for the Boston Red Sox. Previously, he was the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians' Class A affiliate in Kinston, N.C.

His duties will include instructing the outfielders, as was the case with John Shelby, his predecessor as first base coach.

The rest of Russell's staff is pitching coach Jeff Andrews, hitting coach Don Long, bench coach Gary Varsho, third base coach Tony Beasley and bullpen coach Luis Dorante. Beasley will work with the infielders, Dorante the catchers.

"Each individual is a quality communicator, instructor and person with a broad set of experiences and abilities," general manager Neal Huntington said. "As a staff, they complement each other well and will play a significant role in changing the culture in our clubhouse."

Andrews, Long and Frazier-- half the staff -- will be coaching in Major League Baseball for the first time.

The Pirates originally offered the first base job to Perry Hill, one of the game's most-respected infield instructors. But Hill, who left his job with the Florida Marlins last spring to be with his ailing wife, backed away late last week for personal reasons.

Frazier played professionally as a switch-hitting outfielder for 12 years, including five in the majors. He batted .255 with a home run and 58 stolen bases in 302 games.

NOTES -- Free-agent shortstop Cesar Izturis, whose $5.45 million option for 2008 was bought out by the Pirates, signed yesterday with St. Louis for one year and $2.85 million, plus as much as $650,000 in bonuses. The Cardinals had shown interest in trading for Jack Wilson, but this transaction apparently quashes that. ... The Pirates will offer reliever Masumi Kuwata, who earlier this week asked them for a chance to return to the team, a non-roster invitation to spring training. ... Outfielder Andrew McCutchen yesterday was named the eighth-best prospect in minor-league baseball by MLB.com. Twenty scouts were canvassed for the survey.