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Thursday, February 20, 2003

If the news event about which you are to read had happened two years ago, it would have been reported this way:

"The Pirates today upgraded their offense by signing free-agent outfielder Reggie Sanders to a three-year contract valued at $11 million."

But since this is not 2001 or any of the years before it, the story reads this way:

"The Pirates today upgraded their offense by signing free-agent outfielder Reggie Sanders to a one-year contract. Terms were not announced, but Sanders is expected to receive about $1 million."

What a difference one man can make.

Pirates General Manager David Littlefield continues to operate as if he were the illusionist David Copperfield by pulling off sleight-of-hand deals that defy belief.

The signing of Sanders, which won't be final until he passes a physical, is a positive step forward for the Pirates and could have a major impact on the team. No one, however, should consider it a guarantee of anything.

Sanders, a right-handed hitter who made $1.75 million with the San Francisco Giants last year, is coming off two productive seasons with 56 home runs and 175 RBIs -- numbers only Brian Giles surpassed with the Pirates -- while playing for teams that appeared in the World Series. But he is 35 and has a history of injury. He has upside, he has downside.

But he could be a radical improvement for the Pirates. He'll play left field, with Giles moving to center, and probably bat fifth behind Giles and Aramis Ramirez.

Littlefield played poker with Sanders and his agent. Neither side had a lot of options. The Pirates needed an outfielder of Sanders' offensive ability. Sanders, who will be with his fifth club in five seasons, needed a team. Both sides talked almost daily, but neither wanted to budge from its stance.

Littlefield wanted to sign Sanders to a minor-league contract. Sanders held out for a major-league deal and the guaranteed money that comes with it. In the end, Littlefield, apparently facing the probability of losing Sanders, had to come up with the major-league deal, which will involve removing a player from the 40-man roster. The Pirates will probably lose that player to waivers, but Sanders figures to be worth it.

He was once an outstanding defensive outfielder. Although no longer at that level, he should be capable of handling the demanding left field at PNC Park.

Earlier in his career, when he was considered a five-tool, budding superstar, Sanders earned a reputation as being injury prone. After having what was the best season of his career in 1995 with the Cincinnati Reds, batting .306 with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs, Sanders played in only 147 games over the next two years.

But he has done a lot to lose that tag in recent seasons. In three of the past four seasons, he has averaged 133 games, 27 home runs and 82 RBIs. Only in 2000, with Atlanta, did he falter, playing in 103 games 11 homers and 37 RBIs.

This is not the first time the Pirates courted Sanders. In 2001, seeking a power-hitting outfielder, the Pirates approached Sanders, who was a free-agent. But he opted to signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who went on to win the World Series, for one year at $1.5 million.

Rejected, the Pirates signed Derek Bell to a contract valued at about $9 million.

And that's what makes Littlefield the Pirates' most important acquisition since they got Giles from the Cleveland Indians.

When General Manager Cam Bonifay was in charge, the Pirates usually had only one question when they found a free agent who showed the slightest interest in them: How much do you want?

Who could forget the boasting Pirates -- while the rest of baseball laughed -- after the Bell signing. Bonifay did the contract, owner Kevin McClatchy approved it, and Manager Lloyd McClendon heartily endorsed it.

Bell, of course, went on to be a monumental failure.

Such blunders have not occurred on Littlefield's watch. His trade for pitchers Kip Wells and Josh Fogg was sheer genius last year. He has added Matt Stairs and Randall Simon to this year's team, and although neither is a guarantee, both could be considerable upgrades at a bargain price.

Now comes Sanders, who could be better than Stairs and Simon, and also the possibility of Kenny Lofton, an aging but still gifted center fielder.

An outfield of Giles, Lofton and Sanders is not out of the question.

The Pirates remain a team still struggling to reach .500. But under Littlefield they're clearly in the proper pursuit of that and more.