NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Neal Huntington, the Pirates' rookie general manager, issued a public challenge to one of his few veteran players.

Asked yesterday if the team is confident it has an able setup man, Huntington replied: "Salomon Torres should be it. He's been that in the past. If he works as hard as he needs to this offseason and dedicates himself and, with him living in Pittsburgh, he gets himself into the weight room more than he's been this offseason, sure, he absolutely can be that guy."

Torres has acknowledged he was not in peak physical shape entering last spring training and that it contributed to his subpar 2007, including his elbow troubles. But, informed of Huntington's remark yesterday, Torres disagreed with the suggestion that he has not been to PNC Park's weight room often enough this offseason.

"I've been there every day for the past two or three weeks, and I'm getting ready to throw sidelines early next week with the bullpen catcher," Torres said by phone from his North Hills home. "If the Pirates are talking about last year, they're right. I didn't do my best, and I got hurt playing catchup. That's not true now."

Torres said he has lost 8-10 pounds since the season ended, becoming stronger in the process.

"I'm going to have a great year, and I'm getting ready for it."