Rumors and Notes

-- Jen Langosch of MLB.com on Ian Snell and some Pirate possibilities:

Snell does have one option year left, which means the Pirates could send him down as they did with Tom Gorzelanny around this time last year. Triple-A Indianapolis starter Virgil Vasquez was pulled from his start on Tuesday after one inning, and it was confirmed that his early exit was because the Pirates wanted to keep him available as an option for the big league club.

He could be an option if the Pirates are interested in making a move. Or, maybe the more likely scenario, the Pirates could call on Vazquez as bullpen reinforcement after Snell's start forced five relievers to have to pitch on Tuesday.

GM Neal Huntington confirmed that Snell will make his next start.

The Pirates are still not certain whether righty Charlie Morton will be able to make his start Friday. He hasn't completely gotten over his achy hamstring, so the Bucs may skip his turn and have Virgil Vasquez make the start.

-- Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports:

Phillies scouts have looked at every starter who is, might be or, in some wild scenario, could be available. They wonder whether they could make a deal with the Pirates for Paul Maholm, or even Zack Duke.

-- According to John Perrotto of the Pirate Report:

The Pirates have been looking to add a veteran right-handed reliever to their young bullpen and are considering trading for Luis Ayala, who has been designated for assignment.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the Pirates’ interest Tuesday night and a baseball source confirmed it. Ayala, 31, was 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 28 games this season. He struck out 21 in 32 2/3 innings and walked eight.

-- Tyler Yates (right elbow inflammation) remains in Pirate City. There is no timetable for his return. Yates is on the 15-day DL. Craig Hansen (neck spasms) is also there and isn't throwing, either. Hansen is on the 60-day DL. No word on Phil Dumatrait.

-- Another of Kip Wells' nine lives has given up the ghost. The Nationals DFA'ed the reliever today. Wells, a 32-year-old righty, has an ERA of 6.49 in just over 26 innings, with 18 strikeouts and as many walks.

-- Sound familiar? Brewers CF Chris Duffy, assigned outright to Class AAA Nashville on May 26, has been placed on that club's inactive list. Duffy went home to Arizona for the birth of a child after playing three games with Nashville and never rejoined the club.