BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates engaged in a flurry of roster moves yesterday, including naming Nate McLouth their starting center fielder, adding outfielder Nyjer Morgan and infielder Luis Rivas to their bench and cutting four others.

But the most surprising move of the spring is expected today, when management, according to multiple sources, will buy out reliever Byung-Hyun Kim for $300,000.

Kim, 29, was signed Feb. 24 to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with an $850,000 salary and as much as $1.15 million available in performance bonuses. But he has been a major disappointment from the outset, taking five days to sign that contract after the agreement had been reached, then needing two weeks to get his arm into shape to pitch.

Once Kim finally pitched, it got worse: He had a 14.40 ERA and five home runs in as many innings.

As one senior team official put it, "He hasn't exactly made much of an impression."

That continued yesterday, when Kim missed what likely was his last chance to impress. He had been scheduled to pitch the seventh inning of the Pirates' game against the Minnesota Twins -- a 7-3 victory -- but he told the coaching staff he was ill and was given permission to leave McKechnie Field shortly after noon.

General manager Neal Huntington declined comment about Kim's status.

Major League Baseball rules give teams until 2 p.m. today to buy out non-guaranteed contracts. All contracts become guaranteed for the full salary past that deadline. In Kim's case, the Pirates can either pay the $300,000 buyout figure they negotiated with his agent, Scott Boras, or owe the full $850,000 unconditionally.

The rundown of all the Pirates' moves yesterday:

• McLouth beat out Morgan in the duel for the only everyday job that was open entering camp, and he did so convincingly by batting .311 with two home runs, six doubles and three steals. Most important, given that he will bat leadoff for the Pirates beginning Monday in Atlanta, he has a respectable .392 on-base percentage.

It will represent McLouth's first sustained starting duty and, even though it had seemed a foregone conclusion for weeks, he appeared plenty satisfied upon being informed by manager John Russell after the game.

"I knew I was having a good spring and made a good case, but you never know until you hear the news," McLouth said. "It's kind of a relief, kind of exciting."

"Nate swung the bat extremely well," Russell said.

• Morgan has not, batting .228 with two extra-base hits in 57 at-bats. But Russell pushed for his inclusion in part because he likes the idea of having two center fielders and, occasionally, using McLouth and Morgan 1-2 atop the order to give opponents a different look. The Pirates have been one of baseball's slowest teams in recent years.

Morgan, befitting his personality, was anything but reserved.

First, he held court with reporters and cracked jokes, including one about his offense.

"The bat was a little cold," looking down at it scornfully. "She was definitely cold."

In a quieter moment later, he became visibly emotional.

"I've worked all my life for this. I can't wait to take advantage of my chance."

Russell said he might initially use Morgan as a late-inning defensive substitute and pinch-runner but pledged "he will get his at-bats."

• Infielder Luis Rivas, the Pirates' top position player this spring, was added to the 40-man roster by having his contract purchased from Class AAA Indianapolis. No surprise there: His defense impressed from the opening drills of February, and he is batting .348.

That capped quite a comeback from two years in the minors after having been the Twins' starting second baseman and, before that, a wunderkind prospect.

"I've worked hard to get here," Rivas said. "But I have to work even harder now."

• Kevin Thompson, who had been competing with Morgan for the final spot, was optioned to Indianapolis after batting .263.

• Reliever Jonah Bayliss was designated for assignment to clear space on the full 40-man roster for Rivas. Huntington said he hopes Bayliss can clear waivers and be assigned to Indianapolis. He had a 3.18 ERA in six appearances.

• Two veteran relievers, Elmer Dessens and Casey Fossum, were reassigned to minor-league camp and will report to Indianapolis.

So, who is left?

Utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz, although still not added to the 40-man roster because of other players' situations, is a lock. Thus, the only remaining position players on the bubble are infielders Josh Wilson and Jorge Velandia, and one of those will stay only if Freddy Sanchez's shoulder injury forces him onto the disabled list.

But the bullpen, even with Kim out of the picture, remains plenty uncertain, with seven relievers -- left-handers Sean Burnett and Phil Dumatrait, and right-handers Franquelis Osoria, Jaret Wright, Evan Meek, Hector Carrasco and Masumi Kuwata -- and just four vacancies.

As of yesterday afternoon, according to multiple sources, the Pirates' internal discussions painted the following picture:

• Osoria will make the team, as long had been expected.

• Dumatrait is close to a lock, too, so that would leaves five pitchers for two openings.

• Although no one has fared better than Burnett, with a 0.90 ERA, management is very much mixed on him, possibly leaning toward having him start out in Indianapolis.

One concern is that his presence would mean four left-handers in the bullpen, along with John Grabow and Damaso Marte. Another is that he is new to bullpen work, having begun this spring. The third is that Burnett would have to be added back to the 40-man roster after being taken off this winter. Once that happens, he could declare free agency the next time the team removes him.

But the Pirates also seem aware that demoting Burnett, a popular figure throughout the organization who has overcome two major arm surgeries, might not send the best signal.

• If Burnett does not make it, the favorites for the other two openings are Wright and Meek, though management is uncertain about both.

Wright has gathered some support after recent good work that lowered his ERA to 3.38. Evidence of that support came when Huntington this week asked Wright to delay his contractual right to declare free agency if he is not added to the 25-man roster this spring. The deadline had been yesterday and, once Wright agreed to the delay, it now is tomorrow.

He will pitch two innings in a minor-league game this afternoon.

Meek, the 24-year-old Rule 5 draft pick, apparently has brought about the most internal debate.

He must be offered back to the Tampa Bay Rays if he is not kept on the Pirates' roster all season, but the latter is a risk with someone who never has pitched above Class AA. Still, his 3.86 ERA, his seven strikeouts in as many innings and his power arm -- a rare commodity in the Pirates' world -- have some feeling that his potential could be worth it.

Carrasco and Kuwata are very long shots, although Carrasco, a 38-year-old who spent most of the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, is recognized as throwing as well as anyone in camp: He has a 1.29 ERA, eight strikeouts and no walks.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but look at my numbers," Carrasco said. "I'm an everyday pitcher, and this is what I'll bring you every day."

With the camp roster officially at 33 -- including injured center fielder Chris Duffy and reliever Juan Perez -- Huntington said he would like to have the 25-man roster complete in the next two days.

"We've got some tough decisions," he said.