The only question is which team's uniform he will be wearing.
``Wherever it is, I'm preparing to pitch Saturday,'' Benson said.
As Saturday's deadline for trading without waivers approaches, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield is sorting out offers and possible interest in perhaps the best starting pitcher available not named Randy Johnson.
Littlefield said keeping Benson is an option, but that doesn't seem realistic given that Benson (8-8, 4.22 ERA) is unsigned past this season and is likely to command a much higher price in free agency than the Pirates can afford. If they don't trade him, they risk losing him without getting anything in return.
Despite the Pirates' improved play they recently had a 10-game winning streak Littlefield said they have too many holes to realistically fill soon from their farm system. That also signals that a Benson trade is almost a certainty.
Littlefield could choose to wait until the weekend to trade Benson, hoping that doing so would increase the pressure on those contenders who haven't yet added pitching for the stretch drive. Conversely, he risks losing a player he might covet should that team lose patience and make another trade before Saturday.
Also, the Pirates don't have as pressing a financial need to trade Benson as they had last July, when they were forced to trade third baseman Aramis Ramirez and outfielder Kenny Lofton to Cubs for little in return.
``There are lot of factors involved ... If we do something, we've got to get pieces that make sense. There are only certain teams we fit with, and it's hard to say if it's going to be Tuesday or Saturday or if it's not going to happen,'' Littlefield said.
Littlefield has declined to discuss specifics, although it is known that the Twins, Angels and Mets are interested in Benson. The Twins told slumping first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to expect a trade, and he would fill the Pirates' need for a corner infielder.
Mientkiewicz, 30, went in Tuesday's game at the White Sox hitting .238 with five homers and 23 RBIs, but has hit above .300 two of the last three seasons. He has long interested the Pirates, who see him up close during the teams' frequent spring training matchups.
Mientkiewicz's best season was 2001, when he hit .306 with 15 homers and 74 RBIs.
Because Benson might be a rent-a-player, there is no assurance he will stay with the team that lands him the Pirates aren't likely to get as much back as they did from San Diego for outfielder Brian Giles. He was signed for an additional two seasons when the Pirates dealt him in August.
But the Pirates still want a position player and another player who is close to being major league-ready, even if he isn't as talented as left-hander Oliver Perez or outfielder Jason Bay, who were acquired for Giles.
``We do lack some position player options and at first base and third base, we don't have long-term options,'' Littlefield said. ``If we're going to do something, getting a position player makes sense.''
For now, Benson can only wait. Despite losing 4-2 Monday to Atlanta, he has been one of the NL's top starters for more than a month, pitching into the seventh inning in all but two of his last 12 starts. He also hasn't allowed a homer in 11 starts.
``Looking around (Monday night), I knew it would be the last time I'd be with my teammates in the home dugout,'' Benson said. ``It was a little tough.''
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/7/155168