DALLAS -- The Pirates' brass plans to take a freshly aggressive approach and an unusually thick wallet into the Major League Baseball winter meetings that open this morning.

In that regard, it could represent a new day of sorts for the franchise.

But management also will be lugging along the same gnawing, glaring, just-go-away-already issue that has loomed over the organization since July 22, 2003.

All together now, in full throat befitting Abbott and Costello:

Third base!

It is a position that is in premium demand across the game, and it is one the Pirates have failed to fill on a full-time basis since the infamous sell off of Aramis Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs.

They have tried, among others, Jose Hernandez, Chris Stynes, Rob Mackowiak, Ty Wigginton and Freddy Sanchez at the hot corner with less-than-sizzling results: In the first two full seasons after the Ramirez trade, the team's third basemen have batted a combined .255 with 29 home runs and 77 RBIs to rank in the bottom third of the National League in that span. By no coincidence, Ramirez's Cubs led the league in third-base productivity with a .309 average, 76 home runs and 228 RBIs.

General manager Dave Littlefield readily acknowledges the Pirates' shortcoming in this regard, and he makes no secret of his desire to improve it this offseason.

At the same time, when asked to assess his top priorities, he continues to cite four positions without weighing one above the other.

"We would like to get a bat or two to play third base, first base or right field," Littlefield said. "We are looking for right-handed relief, as well."

Third base, he added, is a position the Pirates might well fill internally. He said he and his staff already have discussed the possibility the job could be won by Sanchez, who had a strong finish to this past season, or Mackowiak. Or that those two could form a left-hander/right-hander timeshare there.

"You always have to have internal options," Littlefield said, "and one of those is the combination of Freddy and Rob."

The primary reason the Pirates already are pondering a stand-pat approach for third base, apparently, is that they are aware of the challenges they will face in upgrading, even with roughly $15 million to spend.

Free agency is almost barren.

The best natural third basemen in the field are Bill Mueller and Joe Randa. Both hit mostly for line drives, gap shots and decent average. Mueller batted .295 with 10 home runs last season. Randa batted .276 with 17 home runs. But the Pirates have similar players already in Sanchez and Mackowiak, and both are younger and more versatile in the field.

Trades offer more options, but they are not limitless.

The most attractive possibility to some is Hank Blalock, who has been shopped on and off by the Texas Rangers. He is 25 but already a two-time All-Star with 86 home runs the past three years. One worry among some general managers, though, is his inability to hit away from his home launch pad, as evidenced by 20 home runs last season at The Ballpark in Arlington and just five on the road.

Littlefield has been in touch with the Rangers about Blalock, but he has emphatically refused to part with starter Oliver Perez to consummate a deal.

There also is Arizona's Troy Glaus, another slugger at third base who is 29. The Diamondbacks are willing to move him and his contract that will cost $34 million over the next three years, but they also want any trading partner to assume the contract of outfielder Luis Gonzalez, due $11.5 million next season.

Littlefield is underplaying the importance of third base largely because of his view that, if he addresses power sufficiently at first base and right field, having one or both of Sanchez and Mackowiak at third might be adequate. And he is adamant he will not acquire a third baseman just to acquire one.

"I would only speak in terms of upgrades," Littlefield said. "If you look at the industry in general, there are fewer pure third basemen than there are first basemen or corner outfielders."

The Pirates apparently have cast a wide net in terms of trade discussions, including at least introductory inquiries about the following players for first base or right field:

Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey, an Upper St. Clair native, is available. He is due $8.5 million next year, a figure the Pirates could afford, but the Reds covet a young arm in return. That might be more than the Pirates will want to give up for a player who can be a free agent next winter.

The Reds also are willing to part with one of their four outfielders: Ken Griffey Jr., Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and 40-home-run man Adam Dunn. Dunn could net $9 million in arbitration this year and would be a free agent next winter. Pena, an exceptional raw talent the Pirates long have admired, would cost plenty in trade terms.

The Rangers, desperate as usual for pitching of all types, are shopping outfielder Kevin Mench, a player the Pirates inquired about late last year when they were in hot pursuit of center fielder Laynce Nix. Mench, 27, has 68 home runs in three-plus seasons -- and is first-time arbitration-eligible this winter. The return for Mench would have to be a premier talent, as several teams are eager to get him.

The Milwaukee Brewers, seeking immediate help in the rotation, continue to offer first baseman Lyle Overbay to clear space for promising newcomer Prince Fielder. Overbay, 29, primarily is a doubles hitter, but he did hit 19 home runs last season and could benefit from PNC Park's Clemente Wall.