PITTSBURGH -- It's only natural for the initial reaction after learning that Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady had been traded away to be that of shock and disappointment. But by the time their now former teammates were getting ready to leave PNC Park after Friday's loss, the 23 players left in the clubhouse spoke about the need to move forward.

"It's sad to see them go, but it's another opportunity for guys to step up and move in," Doug Mientkiewicz said. "That's what smaller franchises go through. It's tough losing friends, but you also understand that that's just how it goes."

As the team prepares to move forward without two of its most impactful pieces, there are still a number of questions looming.

First, the Pirates must replace their everyday right fielder. Jason Michaels took Nady's spot in right when Nady was taken out of the game on Friday and could well see much of the playing time there now. Mientkiewicz, too, could fill in if needed.

The Pirates are also expected to bring up an outfielder from Triple-A to assume Nady's roster spot. Though Andrew McCutchen remains close to denting the Major League roster, Nyjer Morgan and Steve Pearce remain the most likely possibilities. Pearce did not play in Indianapolis' game on Friday, which could be an indication that he is preparing to head to Pittsburgh.

A roster move won't be announced until Friday's deal is made official. That could come as soon as Saturday morning.

Also, the loss of Nady forces the Pirates to move forward without one of their biggest clubhouse presences and middle-of-the-lineup bats.

"He was a huge part of the team, one of the best clubhouse presences that we had," Jason Bay said. "It's tough to replace guys like that. But this isn't the first trade in baseball that's ever been made. It's part of the game."

In the bullpen, the loss of Marte leaves the Pirates without a closer. Marte had taken over closing duties this month after Matt Capps went down with injury. With Capps out for at least another month, it would seem most likely that Tyler Yates or John Grabow would step into the ninth inning role.

While manager John Russell was not ready to make any decisions, he now faces yet another shakeup in roles in the 'pen.

"It's got to sink in a little bit," Russell said. "We'll sit down as a staff either tonight or tomorrow morning and see where we are. We obviously feel like we've still got some good candidates, and we'll go from there. I'm not going to pinpoint anybody at this point. "

The Pirates will also call up a reliever to fill the bullpen vacancy left by the loss of Marte. While Ross Ohlendorf, one of the four prospects the Yankees will be sending to Pittsburgh as part of the deal, could be a candidate, it is unknown if the Pirates see him as ready to return to the Majors.

The team is hopeful of having most of these questions answered by Saturday night, as they face the Padres in the third game of a four-game set. And with that, they are prepared to move on.

"It's part of the game," Russell said. "You don't prepare yourself for it. You don't sit around and dwell on it. You move on. You just have to pull together and continue to push on."

Pitching matchup
PIT: RHP John Van Benschoten (1-2, 8.27 ERA)
With the way his first three starts had gone, almost anything would have been a step in the right direction for Van Benschoten. As a result, his five-inning, two-earned-run performance on Monday has to be characterized as such. His aggressiveness in going after hitters is improving, though his efficiency still leaves much to be desired. The right-hander continues to look for his first win as a starter since 2004. Van Benschoten has faced San Diego one other time in his career, allowing three runs in five innings.

SD: RHP Josh Banks (2-4, 3.51 ERA)
Banks isn't approaching Greg Maddux's current stretch of 13 consecutive starts without a victory, though the right-hander has now gone six consecutive starts without a victory after losing 4-3 in Cincinnati on July 21. Banks had trouble with keeping the ball in the ballpark in that start, allowing home runs to Edwin Encarnacion and Ken Griffey Jr. Going into that start, Banks had only allowed five home runs in his previous nine starts for the Padres. He was staked to a 2-0 lead, but couldn't hold it in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.

Tidbits
X-rays done on Jimmy Barthmaier's right wrist on Friday came back showing no fracture. Barthmaier, who exited his start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday after being hit in the wrist by a line drive, did not throw on Friday and will be re-examined over the weekend. His scheduled start on Tuesday is in doubt. ... Tom Gorzelanny finally mastered some efficiency in Triple-A, getting through five innings with just 60 pitches. The lefty allowed five hits and one run and walked none. ... Center fielder Chris Duffy (inner ear infection) has flown down to Bradenton, Fla., where he is recovering. He can do no on-field activity for the next week as he deals with the viral infection. ... Catcher Ronny Paulino caught a bullpen session in Bradenton on Friday and ran the bases on Thursday for the first time since spraining his right ankle. He is getting close to being able to return to game action. ... The Pirates had their annual team picture taken on the field at PNC Park prior to Friday's game. ... Double-A Altoona lefty Dave Davidson will be taking a short leave of absence from the Curve after being named to the Canadian Olympic team. Davidson will report to Toronto on Monday to begin training.

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Up next
• Sunday: Pirates (Paul Maholm, 7-6, 3.92) vs. Padres (Jake Peavy, 7-6, 2.76), 1:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Pirates (Ian Snell, 3-8, 6.10) vs. Rockies (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Pirates (Yoslan Herrera, 1-1, 9.75) vs. Rockies (Glendon Rusch, 4-3, 5.74), 7:05 p.m. ET