Bucs might be more active at meetings

12/02/2005
PITTSBURGH -- For armchair general managers everywhere, there is no better time during the Hot Stove months than the annual Winter Meetings.
With all of baseball's movers and shakers assembling in Dallas this year from Dec. 5 until Dec. 8, the possibilities for blockbuster trades and prominent free agent signings are seemingly endless.
"When you look at the way it goes, people make more deals [during the Winter Meetings] than at any other time," said Pirates GM Dave Littlefield. "There's generally a lot of action because of the dynamics of everybody being together."
While Littlefield has typically been restricted in his ability to participate in this annual beehive of activity due to the Pirates' financial limitations and a lack of depth on his roster, it appears as though the Bucs camp could be more active in Dallas this year. The team's ownership group has announced plans to bump the payroll to nearly $50 million for 2006, and Littlefield has been charged with using the additional resources to address the club's most glaring needs.
"As we have said consistently, we need to upgrade our offense at first base, right field and third base, and we'd like to see if we can strengthen ourselves in the bullpen," said Littlefield.
"[The payroll increase] gives us a lot of different options in that we can look at a lot of different scenarios that we haven't had an opportunity to in the past."
In addition to signing Jason Bay to a long-term contract extension and piecing together a coaching staff for new manager Jim Tracy, Littlefield has been in regular contact with his counterparts around the Major Leagues in an effort to gauge their interest in his players and set a foundation for potential offseason deals. Not surprisingly considering the lack of overall pitching depth in the big leagues, most of the inquiries have been in regards to the availability of the Pirates' young arms.
"We've got a pretty good number of good-looking, young pitchers, and that's where most of their interests are," said Littlefield.
"It's hard to predict [if any moves will be made]. But we've certainly been very active in talking to people and we will continue to be."
"I'm just a not a believer in the 'big splash.' The 'big splash' is only effective when it's for good players to improve your team," said Littlefield. "We've got to make decisions to help us get better and that's what we're working to do."
And whether or not the Pirates are able to land a big bat or bullpen help at the Winter Meetings isn't as important to Littlefield as finding the best available fits for his club, regardless of when the deals occur.
"The best team isn't the team that makes the most moves at the Winter Meetings," said Littlefield. "It's the ones who make the moves that make the most sense and strengthen your team whatever time of year it happens."

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/