BRADENTON, Fla. — Craig Wilson was so valuable to the Pittsburgh Pirates two years ago, he didn't get a day off until mid-July.

A team with one of the majors' least-imposing lineups didn't dare take his bat out of the lineup, not even for a day. Despite striking out a club-record 169 times in 2004, Wilson had 29 homers and 82 RBI while playing half the time in PNC Park, which was designed to reward left-handed hitters and penalize right-handed pull hitters such as Wilson.

The frustration Wilson repeatedly felt that season when long drives were swallowed up by one of baseball's most spacious left field power alleys has been replaced this spring by a different kind of disappointment.

With opening day two weeks away, Wilson doesn't know where he fits into a Pirates club that still needs power and run producers — but, for now, has decided to put him and his $3.3 million salary on the bench.

After Wilson missed all but 59 games last season with a pair of left hand injuries, the Pirates added veteran starters at each of his two primary positions, first base (Sean Casey) and right field (Jeromy Burnitz). Since then, Wilson has heard his name mentioned repeatedly in trade talk, yet general manager Dave Littlefield has yet to do a deal.

Despite being told he will get plenty of at-bats — and he has this spring — Wilson wonders where they will come from when the games start counting, since Casey and Burnitz rarely take days off.

"I guess you could say it's not something you see around the league very often," Wilson said of being sent to the bench despite being productive when he plays. "It is a little unusual."