Duffy to be honored as ‘04 MVP

Chris Duffy never could have imagined when he left Altoona in 2004 that he'd be back playing for the Curve four years later on the night he's honored as one of the best players in franchise history.

Duffy once again is just a regular member of the Curve - not a player on a major league rehab assignment - as he was optioned to Double-A by the Pirates on Thursday. The center fielder's tenure with the Curve could last a while, possibly even the rest of the season.

Tonight, the 2004 team MVP will be one of the players recognized as part of the Curve's 10th anniversary squad. Fans have been voting all season, and their choices will be unveiled prior to the game against Harrisburg.

Duffy should be on hand, though it's not a given. He's been on a rehab assignment with the Curve since June 15, but he has not been at the ballpark the past three days.

The Pirates have allowed the leave of absence, with Altoona manager Tim Leiper saying it was cleared with Bucs general manager Neal Huntington. That wouldn't even be brought up with most players, but it has to be with Duffy, who went AWOL from the organization for a month in 2006 after being demoted to Triple-A.

Leiper said he doesn't expect Duffy, who's battling back from shoulder surgery in August, to have any issues with Thursday's move.

''Everything is taken care of,'' Leiper said. ''Everybody's adults here. It's simple. It's a baseball move, and you go play baseball. It's no different than the other guys here.''

Actually, it is. Duffy is one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, and there's little chance he'd be stuck back in Double-A with most organizations. The 28-year-old is still trying to get healthy, though, but even if he was, it's doubtful he would have been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates have prized prospect Andrew McCutchen in center field at Indy, so there is no room for Duffy. Whether all this means the Bucs no longer have Duffy in their future plans remains to be seen.

''By no means is this the last step of the road for him,'' Leiper said. ''This guy's a good player. He's going to play as hard as he can, and it will all end up OK.''

Duffy batted .250 (11-for-44) with four doubles, a homer and three RBIs during his 14-game rehab assignment with the Curve.

SUBHD: Bullington out

Duffy is still on the Bucs' 40-man roster, which is more than former No. 1 overall pick Bryan Bullington can say.

The organization needed to clear a spot on the roster so Duffy could be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, so it designated Bullington for assignment.

Bullington received a $4 million signing bonus as the top pick in the 2002 draft, and for all that money the Pirates got a grand total of six major league appearances out of the right-hander. Bullington went 0-3 with a 5.89 ERA in those six games.

''I'm disappointed, but these decisions are part of the game,'' Bullington told mlb.com. ''The Pirates' front office didn't see me as a guy in their immediate plans, but I'm hoping someone does. I'm hoping someone will take a chance on me because I feel like I can compete at the big league level.''

Bullington must be placed on waivers. If he clears, the Pirates will have 10 days to trade him, release him or outright him to the minors. The organization is hoping he will clear waivers so he can remain in the system.

Cory Giger is at 949-7031 and cgsports12@aol.com.