BRADENTON, Fla. - After a third season cut short by injury, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kris Benson is finally healthy and poised for a rebound. But he doesn't expect to do it in Pittsburgh.

Benson is in the last year of a $13.8 million contract and will become a free-agent after the season. The 29-year-old right-hander said he expects the Pirates will continue cost-cutting from last season and will likely trade him before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

"I'm expecting the rumors," Benson said. "My name is going to pop up out there a bunch this year. I learned last year to go with the flow."

Benson said he would have agreed to a trade last year when the Pirates began trimming their payroll, dealing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Brian Giles to the San Diego Padres.

"If I was healthy, I was all for it," Benson said. "But the thing is, I didn't want to go to another team and be hurt."

Since 2001, Benson has missed one full season and parts of two others because of injury. He has a 15-15 record since signing that deal. The first overall draft pick in 1996 is 35-41 with a 4.27 ERA in 106 career starts, and he would like to start living up to expectations.

Benson said he has healed from tendinitis that limited him to one game in the second half of the season last year. Benson pitched three hitless innings Monday against the Cincinnati Reds and credited his recovered change-up and cut fastball.

The cutter "needs a little work yet, but it has a chance to be a real good pitch for him," Pirates pitching coach Spin Williams said.

Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon is encouraged by Benson's progress, but he's cautious to set the bar too high.

"It all starts with health," McClendon said. "Keeping him healthy for the entire season is the first step. He knows he needs to take it a step further and produce. This is a big year for him."

Notes:

The Pirates play a seven-inning "B" game against Duquesne University on Wednesday. Former first-round draft picks Bobby Bradley and Paul Maholm are scheduled to pitch for the Pirates. ... Left-handed reliever Mike Johnston, who hasn't pitched in games because of a blister on his left middle finger, played catch Tuesday. ... After missing the first six games with a right hamstring injury, center fielder Tike Redman was in the starting lineup Tuesday and batted leadoff against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.