Ray Chavez, Associated Press Jason Kendall, left, with Oakland general manager Billy Beane yesterday at a news conference introducing Kendall in Oakland. Click photo for larger image.

Having spent nine years with the Pirates and having departed as the franchise's all-time leader in games caught, Jason Kendall couldn't leave without some mixed feelings.

In his first comments since his trade to Oakland, Kendall expressed his thanks to the organization, the city and the fans. But in that direct way of his, he could barely contain his excitement about having the chance to experience the postseason.

"I'm thrilled. I'm going to have a chance to win, and I'm going to have a chance to win now," Kendall said in a conference call with Pittsburgh reporters yesterday. "Pittsburgh has a very, very special place in my heart. The organization gave me my opportunity to play. I wish we could have won there. We didn't. I have a chance to win now. I have nothing bad to say. It was time for a change."

Kendall came to the Pirates as "The Kid" in 1996, the cornerstone of the franchise's rebuilding effort under new owner Kevin McClatchy. He leaves millions of dollars richer, older, wiser and a father but with the team still searching for a formula to get out of a losing rut. He never played on a winning team with the Pirates, let alone tasted a championship.

Kendall conceded it will be a little "odd" in the spring to put on green and gold rather than black and gold with a new team training in Arizona rather than Bradenton, Fla. But the adjustment will be easier because the pitching-loaded Athletics have Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder.

Kendall often vented his frustrations over the constant losing. And when he saw the exodus of players such as Mike Williams, Brian Giles, Aramis Ramirez, Kris Benson, among others, he figured his days as a Pirates player were over because his contract was too burdensome.

What does he see for the Pirates in the future?

"I don't know," Kendall said. "Not to be a jerk or anything, but I'm an Oakland A now. Obviously, they're going young. They have a good group of guys who are trying to establish themselves and make a name for themselves. It's pretty much self-explanatory. It's going to be a while for them. I wish them nothing but the best. I'm going to miss the guys and the clubhouse guys. I kind of saw the handwriting on the wall. Pittsburgh's headed in a different direction."

Kendall voiced a sentiment yesterday that he expressed in confidence in early September. Another year. Another losing season. Another month with nothing to play for except professionalism.

"Every September, somebody would say, 'Hey, you get to spoil it for the Cubs or the Astros.' I'm not out to spoil anything for anybody. That's not why you play this game. I'm in this game for one reason and one reason only -- to get a ring. People talked about the contract. The money doesn't mean anything to me. Don't get me wrong. I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to say no. I have a family to take care of. But I have that chance to win now," Kendall said.

He had his critics and his low moments. But even in the darkest days of losing, he put things in perspective by reminding himself he got to put on a major-league uniform every day. Even after his ankle was dislocated or his catching thumb got mangled it required surgery, he played hard. And if the winning eluded him, Kendall's legacy will be that he played hard.

"That means the world to me. That's how I want to be remembered, as somebody who played the game the right way," Kendall said. "I got that from my father."

Of all the players on the opening-day roster and those on the disabled list at the beginning of the 2001 season, when the Pirates moved into PNC Park with the promise of stopping the revolving door of players, only one remains that Kendall has departed.

That would be shortstop Jack Wilson, the longest-tenured of the Pirates and who a cynic might say will be the next one to leave because the team can't afford him.

To say that there was no friction between Kendall and Wilson would be untrue, but Wilson, who inherits the mantle of the clubhouse voice who speaks for the team, knew better than anyone what Kendall meant to the Pirates.

"It's tough. We lost our best player for financial reasons," Wilson said. "It's the business part of baseball, which everybody pretty much hates. I hope this turns out for the best in the long run.

"Nobody's going to fill his shoes, but we've all got to step up," Wilson said. "I had run-ins with him as a rookie. But I learned a lot from him, from having his presence on the clubhouse and on the field. I wish him nothing but the best. For the first time, he has a chance to play for a contender and a chance to get to the postseason. I'm happy for him."