When the free agent market is slow as it is this winter, it often means good things for low-revenue clubs like the Pirates.
In the offseason between the 2002-03 seasons, the Pirates took advantage of a soft market and signed right-hander Jeff Suppan and outfielders Kenny Lofton and Reggie Sanders for below-market deals that totaled just $2.5 million. It would seem history might repeat itself this offseason, as just 35 of the 171 players who filed for free agency in November had signed contracts as of Jan. 1. However, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington is not so sure his team will reap a bonanza sometime between now and the beginning of spring training.
"Fewer teams have aggressively filled their needs so far, and you can count about five teams who have really been active on the free agent market," Huntington said. "However, that means there are 25 teams still out there looking for players who maybe will be value signings. Even if the prices drop on free agents, there is still going to be a lot of competition to sign guys. I don't think that necessarily enhances our chances. I hope it does, but I don't think there is any way of being sure it will."
The Pirates continue to have interest in a number of second-tier free agents, including right-handed starters Paul Byrd and Pedro Martinez, left-handed reliever Ray King, infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. and outfielder Rocco Baldelli.
