Julie Jacobson, Associated Press Pirates left-hander Zach Duke might have to continue putting up good numbers to receive a big contract like the one Jason Bay just signed. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: OF Redman left off 40-man roster

Now that Jason Bay is taken care of contractually for the next four seasons, who might the Pirates next consider locking up, long-term?

Pirates management probably can't answer that question. For sure, though, some Pirates player can. And will.

"I think that player will come to the forefront," owner Kevin McClatchy said.

"They sort of [separate] themselves. Jason's play sort of dictated he was the one we had to do. And I think the next folks, their play is going to help dictate who should be next."

In 2005, some Pirates did separate themselves ... negatively.

Remember when there was some clamor after the 2003 season that the Pirates should sign right-hander Kip Wells to a multiyear deal? Wells was 10-9 with a 3.28 earned run average that season.

In the next two years he was 5-7 (4.55) and 8-18 (5.09).

How about left-hander Oliver Perez, who had a breakthrough season in 2004, going 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 196 innings?

In 2005, injured and/or ineffective for most of the season, Perez finished 7-5 with a 5.85 ERA.

Outfielder/first baseman Craig Wilson hit a team-high 29 home runs and had 82 RBIs in 2004.

But in 2005, battling hand injuries, Wilson played in only 59 games and managed only five home runs and 22 RBIs.

The hesitation to sign any of those three long-term proved wise.

Bay, though, was different.

He followed a solid rookie-of-the-Year season in 2004 with a better 2005. He hit .306 with 32 home runs, 101 RBIs and 110 runs scored.

He cashed in on that production Thursday by signing a four-year contract worth $18.25 million that buys out his salary arbitration years through 2009.

"It sends a message to our players that, 'Listen, you go out there and do good things on the field, you perform, you take care of yourself, you play, we're open-minded to [thinking about long-term],' " general manager Dave Littlefield said.

"It's like the lineup or the starting rotation. If you force our hand for you to bat first, you're going to bat first.

"We're certainly open-minded about any of these types of deals, but the fact is, the proof's in the pudding. Jason Bay won rookie of the year and the second year he went out and improved. We hope it does send a message to the players."

Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Pirates starting pitcher Kip Wells did not get a multiyear deal after his 2003 season when he posted a 3.28 ERA. Click photo for larger image.

That message most likely will be heard loud and clear by the young players the Pirates promoted to the major leagues in 2005. Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Ian Snell, Chris Duffy, Nate McLouth, Brad Eldred and Ryan Doumit, among others, now know there's money to be made here -- if they perform well and consistently.

"That's the position we're in," Littlefield said.

"We have worked hard and made some tough decisions -- having to make some trades for not always baseball reasons, scaling back payroll to get our financial house in order -- to get to a position where we can now make the decision on our own as to whether we want to keep a guy or not.

"There have been questions about whether we can keep our own players because of some of the moves we've made in the past.

"Now we have tremendous flexibility. We've got the money to spend now. We can go get free agents. We can take a player back in a trade who has some dollars attached or we can go out and give a multiyear contract to one of our own players because we feel confident in what they're going to do."

Bay might be capable of even better offensive production next season if Littlefield can swing a trade or two this winter.

"I've challenged Dave to get two more bats to put around Jason," McClatchy said.

Bay appreciates that request.

"That would be outstanding," he said, "but I also know that just because they want to do it doesn't mean it's going to happen. If it doesn't happen, we've just got to do a better job of executing with the players we have.

"We're a pitching-and-defense team. Even if we get another bat or two, that's not going to make us one of the most offensive teams in the league.

"We're still going to be a pitching-and-defense team. That's where it starts. But as a guy in the middle of the order, any help would be appreciated."

Whatever happens this winter or next season, Bay hopes his signing Thursday will send a message to the fans, his teammates and players on other teams.

"I think, first and foremost, it kind of lays a foundation," Bay said. "It's going to show other people that we're going toward something.

"You can say, 'This is what we're going to do. This is what we're going to do. This is what we're going to do.'

"But people want to see concrete evidence that you're doing something, and I think this is a big step -- not only to the team but to other players, maybe free agents or other teams. It's like, 'Hey, the Pirates are getting serious now. They're out there trying to win this.'

"I'm not saying that by signing me we're going to win, but I think that it's a sign that we're taking a step in the right direction."