CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs dealt Cesar Izturis to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, where the one-time Gold Glove shortstop will be reunited with his former manager Jim Tracy.

Izturis, 27, was batting .246 in 65 games and had lost the starting shortstop job with the Cubs to Ryan Theriot. The Cubs will receive a player to be named from the Pirates, who also got cash considerations in the deal.

"I just want to play every day and now it's an opportunity to go to Pittsburgh," Izturis said. "I'm going to miss this team but it's a business.

"Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me," he said. "Good luck to them, and I'll see them down the road."

In a corresponding move, the Cubs selected Jake Fox from Double-A Tennessee. Fox, was batting .284 with 18 homers and 60 RBIs for the Minor League team. He made an impression on Cubs manager Lou Piniella this spring when he walked into his office and asked to get playing time.

Fox will be used more in the outfield and at first base and is the third catcher behind Jason Kendall and Koyie Hill.

Izturis actually was in the starting lineup Thursday and came onto the field for batting practice. He was acquired by the Cubs last July 31 from the Dodgers for Greg Maddux. Tracy was his manager in Los Angeles.

"Cesar's a real good guy, and obviously we thought going into the season that he would be the starter, but as we always talk about, the people that earn the most playing time get it," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It's not an indictment to him, he's a wonderful guy. He's still got a lot of ability, and I just felt it was a good situation for him to move into.

"He's going to go play for Jim Tracy, who he played so well for in L.A., and hopefully he'll get some more time," Hendry said. "I told him in the clubhouse, 'I want you to go out there and help beat some of those National League Central teams that we're trying to stay on top of and catch.'"

Theriot entered Thursday's game batting .278 and had started 37 games at shortstop.

"There was no problem [with Izturis]," Piniella said. "Theriot just won the job. When you have a veteran like [Izturis], you like to give them a chance to play. A younger kid, you can sit him on the bench and bring him in that way. In fairness to a veteran player, you give them an opportunity to play.

"Give Theriot credit -- he's done a heck of a job at the shortstop position and given us some speed and played well defensively," Piniella said. "There's nothing wrong with Izturis. Izturis is a good player."

Mark DeRosa is now the backup shortstop -- as well as a backup third baseman, right fielder and first baseman. Piniella likes versatile players.

If the Cubs need more help at shortstop, they have Ronny Cedeno at Triple-A Iowa.

"You can't let a great defender like Izturis go unless you feel like you're comfortable not only here," Hendry said. "Cedeno's playing outstanding in Triple-A. Eric Patterson's doing a great job at second base and an offensive player from the left side. So we still think we have other options, if need be, or if somebody pulled a [hamstring], internally."