ATLANTA -- How far did the Pirates and Chicago Cubs push the trading deadline to consummate their deal of Matt Lawton for Jody Gerut yesterday?

Consider that Gerut was a member of the Pirates, technically, but was playing right field for the Cubs beyond the deadline.

For a few minutes, anyway.

General managers Dave Littlefield and Jim Hendry did not finish ironing out particulars until less than 15 minutes before the 4 p.m. deadline. Meanwhile, Gerut stayed in position at Wrigley Field through the top of the seventh inning, until about 4:05 p.m. In the bottom half, once Cubs manager Dusty Baker was informed of the trade, Gerut was removed for a pinch-hitter.

"Yeah, we took it fairly close," Littlefield said. "Anytime you're having discussions like that, both sides are doing a lot of back and forth. It was a variety of things."

The Pirates sent Lawton and agreed to pay half his remaining 2005 salary -- at a cost of $1.12 million -- to acquire Gerut, a 27-year-old right fielder who was The Sporting News' American League Rookie of the Year in 2003 as a member of the Cleveland Indians.

Gerut had been with the Cubs only two weeks after being acquired from the Indians July 18.

He seemed to know little of what to expect from the Pirates.

"I'm really not familiar with the situation over there," he told reporters in Chicago. "My job won't change. It will be to help the team I'm playing for, whether they're in the race, out of the race, whatever. I'll play the same way."

Gerut, a left-handed hitter, is in his third year in the majors and owns a .264 career average with 34 home runs in 316 games. He is seen as slightly above average defensively.

The bulk of his offensive production came in a terrific rookie year, in which he batted .279 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs in 127 games.

This season, he is batting .257 in 55 games with one home run and 12 RBIs. That includes a 1-for-14 showing with the Cubs.

The Pirates seemed set on giving Gerut a chance.

"He's a very talented young man," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He can hit, and he's a good defender. It's always nice to get major-league players in return when you make a trade like this. I think it's a good deal for us."

McClendon suggested Gerut could split some duty in right field with Michael Restovich, who has been used sparingly since being acquired in May.

Littlefield said he, too, was pleased with the deal, in particular because the Pirates can retain Gerut's rights for four years, as compared to Lawton, who can become a free agent this winter.

Gerut's salary is $356,200, and he will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Because he falls into a category known as Super 2, he has four years of arbitration eligibility -- one more than most players -- before he can try free agency.

"We expect him to be with us for years to come," Littlefield said.

Gerut had surgery in September to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, missed the first six weeks of this season and still wears a brace. Littlefield described himself as "confident" it is no issue. Gerut also missed all of 2001 with a torn tendon in the left knee.

The Pirates' players and management bid an emotional farewell to Lawton, their leadoff man and, in many ways, one of their leaders.

He batted .273 with 28 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 101 games, and his statistics were the best in the league when hitting first. He also provided a candid voice in the clubhouse that is likely to be missed.

"Matt Lawton never wavered here, even though times have been tough," McClendon said. "I'm very proud of the way he handled himself, especially the way he worked with our younger players."

Lawton seemed touched by the farewells.

"You'd think guys would be happy to leave here," he said with a grin. "That's not the case with me. I loved my time in Pittsburgh. I would have been happy to stay."

He added he is looking forward to the chase of a pennant after spending most of his duty in the majors with non-contenders.

"It's the first time in my career that in August and September I'll have some meaningful games. When you're playing for a playoff spot, it kind of gets you up a little bit more."

Littlefield had shopped four other veterans before the deadline -- starter Mark Redman, relievers Jose Mesa and Rick White, and first baseman Daryle Ward -- but did not deal any of them.

He has until Aug. 31 to keep trying, but any player involved in a trade after the deadline yesterday must clear waivers.

"We had interest," Littlefield said. "But we feel like we wanted to do something only if it made sense. This was one time when we didn't have financial issues."

The Pirates' payroll dropped to $34 million, a decrease of $750,000. The team could have saved more if it had moved Redman ($1.75 million owed), Mesa ($1.25 million owed), Ward ($340,000) or White ($160,000).

"We're going to continue working to improve the team," Littlefield said. "Especially the offense."