Notes: Plenty of talk in Dallas

12/05/2005
DALLAS -- On the surface, the first day of the Winter Meetings was a pretty quiet one for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Bucs made no trades or free agent signings, and none appeared imminent as of the early evening. The most newsworthy item of the day for the Pirates was the announcement that Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and Salomon Torres would be representing their countries during the inaugural World Baseball Classic next March -- not exactly the kind of head-turning news that keeps the Hot Stove fires burning brightly back in Pittsburgh.
Behind the scenes, however, the Bucs were actively pursuing what they consider the missing pieces of their personnel puzzle, namely a first baseman, a right-handed reliever, a right fielder and a third baseman.
"We have been active and talking to a lot of teams," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said during his daily media session, adding that he was in negotiations with "a half-dozen of so" potential suitors for each of his team's areas of need.
"We've got a bunch of offers out there," said Littlefield. "You're always just a phone call away in that situation."
While Littlefield would not comment specifically on any trade negotiations, he made no secret about the fact that most potential trading partners have shown particular interest in his pitchers. The Bucs GM added that his pitching depth has resulted in the Pirates getting more substantial offers this offseason than in years past.
"It definitely opens up more doors," said Littlefield. "There are more opportunities and more discussions philosophically of how to improve the team."
Whether or not those newly opened doors will result in a trade this week remains unknown. Littlefield insists that he won't make a deal for the sake of making a public relations splash.
"We don't want to be driven to get something done just to get something done," said Littlefield. "It has to make sense."
Overbay in the mix? One player the Pirates have targeted to fill their top priority at first base is Lyle Overbay of the Milwaukee Brewers, who has become available because of the emergence of top prospect Prince Fielder. Overbay, 28, is a left-handed-hitting first sacker who batted .276 with 19 home runs and 72 RBIs a year ago.
"We've had conversations with [the Pirates]," Brewers GM Doug Melvin said. "They're in the market for bats."
Milwaukee is looking for bullpen help, particularly from the left side, and they are reportedly intrigued by Bucs southpaw John Grabow. The Brewers are reportedly not interested in right-handed starters Kip Wells or Josh Fogg, both of whom are heading into contract years.
"We're reluctant to trade for a guy we're only going to have for one year," Melvin said. "Whoever gets Overbay will get him for three years."
The Pirates are looking to add a first baseman because they are not certain that Brad Eldred is ready to play regularly in the big leagues.
"Contact and defense are areas [Eldred] needs to improve," said Littlefield. "We would like to have him be our starting first baseman, but he has to prove [he deserves] it. You have to show consistency."
Blalock watch: Littlefield has targeted a left-handed-hitting third baseman among their biggest offseason needs. Unfortunately for the Bucs GM, this could be his toughest position to fill. The free agent market is weak at third base beyond veterans Joe Randa and Bill Mueller. And there just aren't many young third basemen out there with power from the left side of the plate.
One notable exception is Texas' Hank Blalock. Although the Rangers are not actively shopping Blalock, it is believed that Blalock would be available in a deal for Oliver Perez, a pitcher the Rangers have long coveted. The Pirates, however, have apparently balked at parting with a pitcher who topped all Major League starters in strikeouts per nine innings two seasons ago.
No rush for free agents? The Pirates will not likely be active in the free agent market during the Winter Meetings because the lower and mid-level free agents that the Bucs tend to pursue typically wait until the big-named stars establish the market.
When the Pirates do begin to engage in serious negotiations with free agents, Littlefield does not believe his team will be as difficult to sell to players as in years past.
"The three factors [in attracting free agents] are money, winning and opportunity," Littlefield explained. "Definitely there is a view among baseball people that we are getting better. There is a little more buzz, an easier sell, or whatever you want to call it."
Bucs bits: The Pirates will not offer free agents Jose Mesa, Daryle Ward, Brian Meadows and Rick White salary arbitration before the Wednesday deadline for doing so. If they are not offered arbitration, then they cannot re-sign with the club prior to May 1, 2006. ... Littlefield said Monday that he expects to offer arbitration to RHP Josh Fogg prior to the Dec. 20 non-tendering date.

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