Pirates GM Neal Huntington has given Ronny Cedeno a rather lukewarm endorsement as the team's starting shortstop.

"We've always been prepared to go into the season with Ronny as our shortstop," Huntington said. "But, like we do in everything, we're always looking for an upgrade. If we get it, great. If we don't, we enter the season with someone we feel comfortable with, and that's Ronny." It's clear they'd love to upgrade if possible, but an already-thin market has dried up. The Pirates were in on trade talks for Jason Bartlett and J.J. Hardy, and they've talked to the Cardinals about Brendan Ryan, who can still be had.

Pirates and SS Ronny Cedeno avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year contract with a club option for 2012.

The first year of the deal is expected to be worth around $2 million. Cedeno hit just .256/.293/.382 in 2010, but he's a decent defensive shortstop and the Pirates don't exactly have a better option. He's not an option in fantasy leagues and should go drafted in most formats next spring.

The Pirates are wrapping up a one-year deal with arbitration-eligible shortstop Ronny Cedeno that will be worth around $2 million.

Cedeno made $1.125 million this year, so he's getting a nice raise despite posting a .256/.293/.382 batting line over 468 at-bats in 2010. He is expected to open the 2011 season as the Pirates' starting shortstop, but he should only be considered a fantasy option in NL-only formats.

Pirates manager John Russell thinks Ronny Cedeno has nailed down the starting job at shortstop for 2011.

"We'll see where we're at in the offseason, but I see no reason why Ronny Cedeno shouldn't be our shortstop (in 2011)," manager John Russell said. It's very Pirates-like to commit to a guy who is below average offensively at shortstop when he's in the middle of an, at best, so-so season. Cedeno will enter his final year of arbitration over the winter.

Ronny Cedeno was 1-for-4 with a run scored in his return to the starting lineup against the Mets on Friday night.

Cedeno hadn't started a game since last Wednesday due to a left shoulder injury.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) returned to the Pirates' starting lineup Friday.

He finally made it through batting practice without a hitch. Cedeno hadn't started a game since last Wednesday due to discomfort in his left shoulder.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup again Thursday.

The Pirates aren't even going to see how he feels in batting practice, so this is hardly a bad sign. Cedeno hasn't started a game since last Wednesday due to continued discomfort in his left shoulder. Cedeno keeps saying he doesn't expect to go on the disabled list, but one must wonder how much longer the Pirates will play with 24 guys.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup.

Cedeno has now been scratched from two consecutive starts. He's obviously having some problems with his shoulder during pre-game batting practice.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) is in Wednesday's lineup against the Marlins.

Just don't count on him staying there. Cedeno was originally in the lineup Tuesday, but was scratched due to continued discomfort with his left shoulder during batting practice. Keep an eye on his status.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) is back in the Pirates' lineup Tuesday.

Cedeno had missed a couple of consecutive games due to shoulder problems and an eventual cortisone shot. All is well now, though. The shortstop is batting .245/.287/.367 in 327 at-bats this year.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) still isn't able to swing a bat.

Cedeno hasn't started since last Wednesday and was scheduled to receive a cortisone shot Monday. The team could make a decision on possible DL stint Tuesday. Argenis Diaz will continue to start in his place for now, but the recently-acquired Pedro Ciriaco could earn a call up from Triple-A Indianapolis should he require a stint on the disabled list.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) was out of the lineup Sunday for the fourth straight game, but the Pirates don't expect to place him on the disabled list at this point.

"We're still optimistic," GM Neal Huntington said. "But if we're not seeing the progress we're going to see, [the DL] could be an option." Argenis Diaz has filled in at shortstop with Cedeno out. Huntington said that if they would eventually need to DL Cedeno, Pedro Ciriaco would be an option to be brought up from Triple-A.

Ronny Cedeno (shoulder) was out of the starting lineup for a second straight day Friday.

Cedeno is currently sidelined due to a left shoulder impingement. "I woke up this morning and I felt sore," said Cedeno. "I can take ground balls but I can't swing." He was evaluated by doctors in Houston and is only expected to miss a few days. Argenis Diaz started in his place again Friday.

Ronny Cedeno is out of the Pirates' lineup on Friday with a left shoulder impingement.

It's not his throwing shoulder, so it should be just a day-to-day thing. The Pirates have Argenis Diaz playing shortstop tonight.

Ronny Cedeno has been benched for four of the Pirates' last five games.

Bobby Crosby is performing slightly better at the plate and a whole lot better in the field than Cedeno, who is batting just .232/.273/.329 this season with only 15 RBI in 207 at-bats. "I've been inconsistent a little bit," Cedeno acknowledged Sunday. "It's part of the game. It happened to me, and I think they did it right. They're right. I agree with them. I can sit on the bench a couple days, relax, then come back to play everyday."

Ronny Cedeno returned to action on Saturday May 29.

Ronny Cedeno is back in the starting lineup against the Cubs on Friday afternoon.

Cedeno has been out of the lineup since being hit in the right wrist by Johnny Cueto on Tuesday night.

Pirates manager John Russell said Ronny Cedeno has only a bruise on his right wrist.

Cedeno was plunked in the wrist by Johnny Cueto on Tuesday night, but seems to have avoided a serious injury. He will not play on Wednesday, but could return to the lineup on Friday.

Ronny Cedeno will be re-examined on Wednesday morning to determine if his left wrist was fractured when he was hit by Johnny Cueto on Tuesday night.

"I hope it's not broken, but we don't know yet for sure," Cedeno said. Cedeno, who got the only hit off Cueto in the third inning, remained in the game after the plunking and made two putouts over the final three innings.

Ronny Cedeno has been scratched from the Pirates lineup Sunday due to flu-like symptoms.

He was replaced at shortstop by Bobby Crosby.