MLB.com's Tom Singer writes that Pirates general manager Neal Huntington will "push hard" for a new deal with Clint Barmes during the club's five-day exclusivity window.

The Pirates plan to use Jordy Mercer as their regular shortstop next season, but they want to bring back Barmes and his steady defense as insurance. Barmes has hit only .221/.263/.316 the past two seasons for Pittsburgh.

Clint Barmes is starting at shortstop for the Pirates in Monday's NLDS Game 4 against the Cardinals.

That's two starts in a row for Barmes, who is the far better defender than backup shortstop Jordy Mercer. Pittsburgh will be looking to advance to the NLCS with a win over the Cardinals on Monday at PNC Park. The full Bucs lineup: Starling Marte LF, Neil Walker 2B, Andrew McCutchen CF, Justin Morneau 1B, Marlon Byrd RF, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Russell Martin C, Clint Barmes SS, Charlie Morton SP.

Clint Barmes went 1-for-4 with a home run in Friday's win over the Giants.

Barmes hit a three-run shot off Madison Bumgarner in the seventh inning for his only hit of the night. The 34-year-old is batting .224/.265/.325 over 84 games in a part-time role with the Pirates.

Clint Barmes doubled twice and drove in two runs versus the Cardinals in Monday's rout.

Barmes has been hitting better since he started losing playing time to Jordy Mercer; he's at .298 in 47 at-bats this month. Most likely, it's a temporary spike, but since he is a better defensive shortstop than Mercer, he'll play quite a bit while he's hitting.

Clint Barmes singled and smacked a solo homer in Sunday's win over the Mets.

The light-hitting infielder now has two home runs this season, and they have come against Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey. Barmes can still pick it with the glove, but he shouldn't be owned in mixed league despite occasional spurts of power.

Clint Barmes went 0-for-4 on Wednesday, leaving him 2-for-23 this season.

Barmes still offers one of the steadiest gloves in the business, but it probably doesn't make up for his bat any longer. He's yet to drive in a run, and he's scored just once in nine games this season. Last year, he came in at an abysmal .229/.272/.321 in 455 at-bats.

Clint Barmes hit his first career grand slam Sunday, helping the Pirates erase a 5-0 deficit in their 11-5 win over the Padres.

He finished his afternoon 2-for-5. Barmes' fateful blast came off Ross Ohlendorf in the fourth, and turned a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead. Barmes' sixth home run of the season was his second since the All-Star break. The big afternoon doesn't change the fact that Barmes was one of last offseason's worst free agent signings. With 48 games to go, Barmes is hitting .217/.244/.314.

Clint Barmes is not in the Pirates' starting lineup Wednesday against the Nationals.

Barmes went 0-for-3 with a strikeout on Tuesday and is now hitting just .159/.196/.307 across 94 plate appearances, so he could probably use the breather. Josh Harrison will start in his place at shortstop Wednesday and bat eighth against left-hander Ross Detwiler. Rod Barajas, who hit a walkoff homer Tuesday, slides up to the seventh spot.

Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

Both hits were doubles, giving him six on the season. He also committed his sixth error at shortstop. Despite batting only .173, he is showing some signs of life, and the Pirates have little choice but to remain patient with their big offseason signee.

Clint Barmes went 3-for-3 including a home run to help lead the Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Rockies on Tuesday.

Barmes had really struggled to start the season, hitting just .089 going into the game Tuesday. His solo home run off of Matt Belisle was his second of the season, and tied the game at four in the eighth inning. While he'll never be confused for an offensive dynamo, and shouldn't be owned in most mixed leagues, he deserves credit for a sold effort in this one.

Clint Barmes notched another 0-for-3 performance in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Cardinals.

He is now batting 4-for-45 (.089), and also has committed four errors in 14 games. In other words, the veteran has been both an offensive and defensive liability for the Pirates thus far. The organization made him the highest paid player on the team after signing him to a two-year, $10.5 million contract this offseason. He has a long way to go to earn that money.

Clint Barmes went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's loss and is still without a hit in four games this season.

The Pirates went for defense and leadership in signing Rod Barajas and Barmes over the winter, but they added a lot of outs to the bottom of the lineup in the process. The two are a combined 1-for-26 so far this season.

Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with a couple of runs scored in Thursday's loss to the Rays.

He also stole his first base. Barmes is enjoying a solid .346/.370/.462 batting line. But bear in mind that he is a career .252 hitter, and that this is only spring training.

Pirates signed SS Clint Barmes to a two-year, $10.5 million contract.

Barmes passed his physical Monday in Pittsburgh, thus making the deal official. The 32-year-old is expected to start at shortstop for the Pirates in 2012 after batting .244/.312/.386 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 123 games this past year for Houston. He's not much of a fantasy option.

SI.com's Jon Heyman hears that Clint Barmes will get a two-year, $11 million contract to take over as Pittsburgh's shortstop.

Two key signings, two below average hitters for Pittsburgh. Barmes rates as an above average defensive shortstop and he does have some pop in his bat, but he's always been awfully OBP challenged. He's pretty much the shortstop equivalent of Rod Barajas.

The Pirates have emerged as the favorite to land free agent shortstop Clint Barmes.

Barmes, 32, batted .244/.312/.386 with 12 homers, 39 RBI, and a .698 OPS, and would be an immediate upgrade over current starter Chase d'Arnaud. The Giants and Brewers have also been linked to the Type B free agent, with a two-year deal considered likely.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin plans to meet with Clint Barmes' agent, Barry Meister, on Wednesday.

Yet another possibility for shortstop. Barmes, who turns 33 in March, batted .244/.312/.386 with 12 homers, 39 RBI and a .698 OPS this season and would be an upgrade over Yuniesky Betancourt defensively. The Brewers have also had discussions with the agents for Rafael Furcal and Jose Reyes.

While he is interested in re-signing impending free agent Clint Barmes, Astros general manager Ed Wade conceded that the shortstop might be out of the team's price range.

"We'd love to have Clint back," Wade said. "It's going to be a case of trying to see whether it fits for us economically as we go forward. It's something that's more apt to be dealt with after the ownership situation is resolved." A Type B free agent, Barmes had a nice year in the field and belted 12 homers over 446 at-bats. But, he's just a .252/.302/.401 hitter in his career, so we can't imagine the 32-year-old will be terribly expensive. The 'Stros might decide they're better off giving Jimmy Paredes a shot, though.

Clint Barmes will be a Type B free agent.

In other words, the Astros can score a supplemental-round draft pick in 2012 if he signs elsewhere. Barmes, 32, batted .244/.312/.386 in 123 games this season.

Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's win over the Cubs.

He drove in a pair of runs with a single in the first and then added another base hit later on. Barmes also notched his third stolen base of the season. Though he sports a sub-par .251/.322/.394 batting line, Barmes has belted 11 homers and graded out very well defensively for the 'Stros this season.