The search ending within their own organizational flow chart, the Pirates promoted former infielder Carlos Garcia yesterday to take over two jobs vacated when club officials and Perry Hill couldn't reach an agreement two weeks ago, causing them to exercise the latter's option for 2010 and Hill to return home to his family in Texas.

Garcia, 42, who spent the past two seasons as the club's minor league infield coordinator, will serve as the major league team's infield instructor and first base coach, as Hill had in 2009. Garcia spent time with the Pirates in the past two spring trainings, including last year with Hill.

"Carlos Garcia adds another experienced baseball man to John Russell's staff," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement announcing the move. "His years as a player, minor league infield coordinator and major league coach, combined with his energy and abilities as an instructor, make him a great addition to our big-league staff."

Garcia played from 1990-96 with the Pirates, where he was their 1994 All-Star Game representative. He then played for Toronto ('97), Anaheim ('98) and San Diego ('99). He served as Cleveland's hitting and infield coach in Class AAA Buffalo in 2003-04 and spent the next three seasons as the Seattle Mariners' third base coach and infield instructor. The Mariners in 2005, much like the Pirates under Hill in 2009, topped their league in fielding percentage (.986). They finished in the top five in Garcia's other two seasons with Seattle, fourth in '06 and third in '07 (.985 each time). They lost 93, 84 and 74 games in those seasons.

The Pirates (.988) led the American and National leagues this season while setting an all-time baseball record: the first team to lose a minimum of 99 games and lead the majors in defense.

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