Stockpiling Done, Bucs Seek Momentum

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Pirates' recent run of futility is that the players, as bad as things were going, never feared much for their jobs.

The feeling in the clubhouse this spring, though, is that if you don't perform, someone across the room is good enough to beat you out.

Which means that, internally at least, the Pirates recognize their two-year quest to build an inventory of talent has worked.

"We've got a lot more depth now," lefty Zach Duke, who around these parts counts as a veteran, told FanHouse. "We've got players that are eager to take major league players' positions. That's the position we haven't been in in the past. There hasn't been a whole lot of pressure from within the system.

"I think the front office has proven to us now that if we don't get the job done, they're going to find somebody that will."

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Pittsburgh's U.S. pro-sports record streak of 17 straight losing seasons may not end in 2010.

But its streak of dumping veterans for as many prospects as possible in July is over.

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"We don't need to do that any more," general manager Neal Huntington said. "We've got enough depth in the system that is has to make sense from a baseball standpoint."

Over a 369-day period -- July 26, 2008, through July 30, 2009 -- Huntington traded ...

Deep breath ...

Damaso Marte, Xavier Nady, Jason Bay, Jose Bautista, Ronny Paulino, Nate McLouth, Eric Hinske, Nyjer Morgan, Sean Burnett, Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson, Ian Snell, Freddy Sanchez, John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny.

That's four outfielders, a shortstop, a second baseman, a first baseman, a utiltyman, a pinch hitter, a catcher, three relievers and two starters.

In return, the Pirates got 28 players -- prospects of varying degrees.

"We had a limited number of good players," Huntington said. "We believe the system [now] is as deep as its been in a long time."

While going for quantity, Pittsburgh also showed a willingness to take on high-ceiling players once regarded as top prospects whose organizations had soured on them. Think Jose Tabata, Jeff Clement and Lastings Milledge.

"Team weren't giving up quality," Huntington said. "Teams weren't giving up their 1 or their 2 [No. 1 or No. 2 prospect].

"So our belief was, get as many quality guys as we can. ... We certainly tried to get the teams' best prospects. And once that wasn't possible, we went off our [preference] lists and we looked to get the next best group of players we could."

People in Pittsburgh and around baseball wondered if it was just salary dumping. Huntington insists not.

The criticism will abate only if the plan works, but Duke said he is coming around.

"Obviously I lost some friends," Duke said, "I lost some guys that I've known a long time. I still keep up those friendships. But you can definitely see the reasons why they made the moves they have, and the potential that exists in this room now is definitely encouraging.

"Now the responsibility falls on our shoulders to get the job done."

Of that 28-player haul, Ross Ohlendorf and Charlie Morton are in the rotation, Andy LaRoche is at third base, Milledge is in left field and Clement could win the job at first base.

On the way: outfielders Tabata and Gorkys Hernandez and right-hander Tim Alderson.

"I do think we're headed in the right direction," said Ohlendorf, who came from the Yankees in the Nady-Marte deal.

While every dollar matters in the Pittsburgh market, Huntington said, "As these players grow and develop and mature, our payroll will grow and develop and mature."

The Pirates might still dump an expiring contract, but they won't be making any more inventory-building deals, Huntington said.

"Our belief is that we're closer to being on the other side of that," he said. "Now we've got enough depth that if the right situation's there, we could make a trade to add to this club."

The most anticipated arrival from that depth is third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Alvarez hit .288 with 32 doubles, 27 home runs and 95 RBI in 126 games between high Single-A and Double-A. He isn't expected in the majors before midseason, partly because that would keep him from being arbitration-eligible after the 2012 season, but also because he needs the seasoning.

"Obviously," Alvarez said, "I want to be up there. That's why you play, but that's something I can't really worry about."

The Pirates want Alvarez to develop his mental approach to hitting, get consistent on defense and further work on his physical condition. (There's weight to be lost in the middle and the back end.)

For the team as a whole, the task now is -- while continuing to be aggressive in the draft (Pittsburgh spent more on draft signing bonuses the past two years than any other team) and internationally -- to take the talent on hand and form it into a contender.

Some of that is developing an internal confidence, an us-against-the-world mentality that convinces players winning in Pittsburgh is possible.

It helps that there are some players with an edge to them, such as Milledge, Andrew McCutchen and last year's No. 1 pick, Tony Sanchez, who was criticized as an overdraft but who has impressed this spring with his energy, his flash and a bat better than projected.

"It's time to move forward," Russell said. "We feel like the dark days are over. Survival mode is over. You can't survive at the major-league level and expect to win. We feel like this is the time to do that. We can go and play and expect to win."