"The Pirates saw what their new shortstop could do from across the diamond last season, and they are pleased that Clint Barmes, the former Houston Astro, is on their side now.

"We played against him; you've seen what kind of glove he has," starting pitcher James McDonald said.

"I was really excited we got him up the middle, strengthened that up."

Barmes signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract in November and will assume the starting shortstop duties. He has spent much of this offseason preparing the new house his family bought in Colorado, but this weekend traveled to Pittsburgh for PirateFest to meet his new teammates and fans.

Having had time to digest his new surroundings, Barmes said he was optimistic about the 2012 season.

"There's no reason we can't compete and have a chance to make it to the playoffs," he said Friday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center before the start of PirateFest.

Barmes will replace Ronny Cedeno, who steadied himself in the field but remained erratic at the plate in 2011. The Pirates declined Cedeno's $3 million option after the season."