Pittsburgh.Pirates.MLB.com

By Ed Eagle / MLB.com

A published report said Raul Mondesi is going to sit out the remainder of the season. (Gene Puskar/AP)

After being advised by their legal representatives to deposit the outfielder's paychecks into an interest-baring account, the team was notified Wednesday that an order lifting opposition of payment to Mondesi was entered in the Dominican Republic, thus allowing the Pirates to pay him directly.

Mondesi's pay had been kept from him as a result of a civil suit in the Dominican Republic by former big leaguer Mario Guerrero. Guerrero claims Mondesi is one of several players who promised to pay him for providing them with baseball training.

Although Mondesi denies Guerrero's claims, a Dominican court ruled earlier this year that the right fielder owes Guerrero approximately $640,000. Mondesi had refused to pay and his bank accounts were then frozen in the country.

"This order that was lifted changed the previous situation and lifted the opposition to the payments," explained Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "Therefore, we were able to pay Mondesi."

On April 25, Mondesi was quoted by an Associated Press writer from the Dominican Republic as saying that he would leave the Pirates if he did not receive his paycheck on April 30. Mondesi later denied the report through a team official, and he has remained with the club without incident.

Although he politely declined to speak with reporters about his financial situation, Mondesi was obviously in good spirits over Wednesday's decision. The 12-year veteran even celebrated his good fortune by purchasing gifts for several younger teammates, including a Louis Vuitton bag he bought for rookie J.J. Davis.

Davis struggles in left: Even as Davis admired his new designer bag before batting practice Wednesday, he was still disappointed by his defensive performance the night before.

Playing left field for the second time in his big league career, Davis dropped a routine fly ball in the first inning and misread two others which led to an important run for Houston in the fourth inning.

"I just didn't get good jumps," said Davis. "I second-guessed myself and I just held up. I was mad at myself. I apologized to [Pirates starter] Josh [Fogg] today for that because I could have caught those balls."

After spending his professional career in right field prior to Sunday, Davis said the transition to the other side of the diamond has been difficult.

"I haven't ever played left field in my life. It's a big adjustment," said Davis. "I just have to get some innings out there, a couple of more games and I'll be used to it."

While Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said Wednesday that he does not plan to use the rookie in PNC Park's spacious left field any time soon, the Bucs skipper does believe that Davis will continue to improve his game defensively as he gets over the jitters of learning a new position at the big league level.

"The fact is he just had a bad day yesterday. He'll get better," McClendon said.

"Defense is a lot like offense. You've got to feel comfortable. You've got to find that groove. It's not that easy. J.J. is a decent outfielder. He just did not play decent outfield the last couple of times he's been out there. But he's certainly capable of playing there."

Baywatch continues: It certainly hasn't taken injured left fielder Jason Bay long to get his bat going at Triple-A Nashville.

Bay, who spent April at extended Spring Training while rehabilitating his surgically-repaired right shoulder, has four hits in eight at-bats during his three games with the Sounds. In Wednesday's 11-9 loss to Memphis, Bay was 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.

More important than his hitting, Bay has played the field without any setbacks. If he continues to progress, Bay could join the Pirates for their upcoming weekend series against the Dodgers at PNC Park.

"We're just going to let it play out a little bit more and see how he does the next couple of days," said McClendon. "I think his performance from a physical standpoint will tell us more than any plan that we have."

Bucs Bits: Top prospect Sean Burnett was scratched from his scheduled start with the Sounds on Wednesday due to back spasms. ... First baseman Randall Simon, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring, ran for the second consecutive day Wednesday. If all goes well he could begin a rehab assignment with Nashville as early as this weekend.

Ed Eagle is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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