Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
	Pittsburgh Pirates Jason Kendall

NEW ORLEANS --Talks between the Pirates and San Diego Padres about catcher Jason Kendall may have resumed.

San Diego's interest in Kendall seemingly died when the Padres obtained catcher Ramon Hernandez in a trade with the Oakland Athletics. But, when the Padres dealt Mark Kotsay for Hernandez, the A's insisted that left-handed hitting center fielder Terrence Long be included. Long is owed $8.1 million over the next two seasons, and the Padres have been trying to find a taker ever since they got him.

Padres GM Kevin Towers covets Kendall for his durability and hard-nosed style of play. It is believed the Padres would trade Hernandez and Long, who hit .245 with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs, for Kendall as long as the Pirates pay a portion of the $42 million Kendall is owed over the next four years.

The Pirates, however, wanted Hernandez and outfielder Xavier Nady, viewed as a top prospect, instead of Long. But the Padres said any deal that includes Nady is dead.

While not mentioning the Padres or any names specifically, Pirates GM David Littlefield repeated yesterday that Kendall has drawn interest from other teams. He also said: "If we were to make a trade, we understand we'd have to take back a portion of the money."

The sticking point is how much they would have to eat.

One school of thought is the Pirates would have to make the trade prior to Dec. 20, when more players are expected to be on the market if they are not tendered contracts by their current clubs. Littlefield said he feels no pressure to get a deal done in the next 10 days, but agreed that the more financial flexibility he has the better off he will be in bidding for players on the open market.

The Padres came close to obtaining Kendall last summer. They wanted to unload pitcher Kevin Jarvis (4-8, 5.87 ERA) and weak-hitting catcher Wiki Gonzalez (.200, no home runs, 10 RBIs in 24 games) and have the Pirates pick up more than half the tab owed to Kendall. The Pirates balked at the financial terms and what they were getting in return, especially since there was heavy criticism for what little they got in other deals.

Kendall is the last and priciest bargaining chip the Pirates have on the table in their bid to break out of a frustrating cycle of losing. Because of a burdensome contract,

While the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners have talked to the Pirates about Kendall, it is believed that neither of those possibilities will get past preliminary discussions. The Cubs, for example, are currently close to their projected payroll of $85 million and may not be able to afford him. For his part, Kendall wants to stay near his home on the West Coast, and he can veto any deal.

If Kendall stays put -- which remains a distinct possibility -- his salary will take a big chunk of a $35 million payroll. At one point, Kendall was so sure he would be traded that he put his Pittsburgh home on the market. It didn't sell, and the property has subsequently been removed from the real-estate listings.

The A's may also be a possibility. If they are unable to hang onto shortstop Miguel Tejada, they may have enough money to take on a big enough portion of Kendall's contract to look into a deal.