PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates badly need a reliable starting pitcher. Despite Ian Snell's stellar statistics at Triple-A Indianapolis, it apparently won't be him.

Snell has a 0.34 ERA in four starts since being demoted June 25, striking out 34 and walking eight in 26 1-3 innings, but the Pirates don't plan to recall him — at least in the near future — because of his apparent reluctance to return to the majors.

"Ian spoke publicly about not wanting to come back and it's tough to bring a player back into a clubhouse with 24 other players when he's been strongly adamant he doesn't want to come back," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Sunday.

After going 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts for the Pirates, the right-handed Snell told the team he was weary of pitching amid criticism in Pittsburgh and would welcome a demotion. He has not lobbied to rejoin the Pirates.

"I think the team is better off without me," Snell told a local reporter.