PITTSBURGH — The Los Angeles Dodgers have always been pitching-rich.

By comparison, the Pirates are standing on a street corner, holding a tin cup and hoping some generous team hands them an effective hurler.

The Dodgers might have done so.

James McDonald, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, came to Pittsburgh in a trade for closer Octavio Dotel July 31 — and McDonald had no problem boarding the plane.

“I was almost relieved to come here,” he said.

The 26-year-old said he felt like he became lost in the shuffle in L.A. He pitched four games in relief for the Dodgers in 2008, made four starts and 45 appearances for the team in 2009, and began last season with Class AAA Albuquerque.

“I didn’t know if I was coming or going, starting or relieving, what my role was, nothing,” McDonald said. “I never had a chance to settle into any kind of routine there.

“All I wanted was some time to show what I could do. The Pirates gave me that time.”

And it appears he can do plenty.

Immediately upon arrival, McDonald was placed in the Pirates’ starting rotation. In 11 starts, he was 4-5 with a 3.52 earned run average and 61 strikeouts in 64 innings.

He struck out a career-high eight batters in six scoreless innings during his Pirates debut Aug. 5 against Colorado. That was a long way from his minor league stint to begin last season.

McDonald was placed on the disabled list twice by Albuquerque — once with a broken fingernail on his throwing hand, once with a right hamstring strain.

“He has all the tools to win at this level,” Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage said. “James is aggressive on the mound, he throws strikes and he has a competitive mind.

“When he channels that aggressiveness into his pitching, he’ll win consistently with us.”

If 2010 was an audition, McDonald passed it.

Searage lists him as one of four pitchers in the starting rotation, joining Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf and Kevin Correia, with secure jobs entering spring training.

“James McDonald was a tough egg to crack when he first came to us,” Searage said. “He had a bad experience in L.A. Anyone in the brass, he didn’t trust.

“Once he relaxed and saw his opportunity, he brought a great attitude to this staff.”

McDonald posted a 1.80 ERA over his final five starts of 2010, including a stretch of 20 consecutive scoreless innings. No Pirate had done that since Zach Duke in 2005.

“It’s helpful, settling into a routine,” McDonald said. “When you know what your preparation needs to be day in and day out, it makes a difference.

“There’s nothing fancy about me. I’m a fastball, curve and changeup guy who pitches aggressively and I have confidence in my stuff.”

Now he’s found an organization with confidence in him.

“(Manager) Clint Hurdle brings a winning mentality to this organization and Ray Searage lets you know exactly where you stand,” McDonald said. “I like that.”

Voluntary spring training reporting date for pitchers and catchers is Feb. 14.