PIRATES Roster overhaul progress is a blip

The Bucs are nine games below .500 at the break.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates spent the winter overhauling their roster, yet their record is not much better than it was a year ago.
The Pirates are 41-50 at the All-Star break -- they were 38-49 last year and eventually hit the identical 41-50 mark en route to a 72-89 finish -- and appear to be doomed to their 11th consecutive non-winning season.
Thanks to a weak NL Central, they're just 7 1/2 games behind the division-leading Houston Astros. The Pirates were 10 games back at the break last year, although they were in fourth place, compared to fifth place this year.
General manager Dave Littlefield doesn't believe the Pirates are legitimate contenders and manager Lloyd McClendon now seems inclined to agree.
That could mean another overhaul for the Pirates, this one in advance of baseball's July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.
Phones are ringing
Littlefield's phones buzz constantly with calls from other general managers, all of them looking for parts to add for the stretch drive.
The Pirates could be kind of a superstore for the contenders. They signed five veteran free agents for the short term in the off-season and all have either met or exceeded expectations.
With those five players unlikely to return to Pittsburgh next season, it's a chance for contenders to get valuable role players -- and for Littlefield to acquire prospects with high potential and low salaries who fit the Pirates' rebuilding program.
Littlefield can offer center fielder Kenny Lofton, right-handed starters Jeff Suppan and Jeff D'Amico and outfielders Reggie Sanders and Matt Stairs.
All are signed to one-year contracts, although Suppan has a team option for 2004.
Their salaries are small enough to fit any team's budget, particularly for just the final weeks of the season.
"It's hard to say where the discussions will go but we'll be active," Littlefield said. "We have to be objective about where we are. We're [nine] games under .500 and that doesn't really ring of a division champion."
Cubs factor
The Chicago Cubs are interested in Lofton after losing center fielder Corey Patterson to a season-ending injury.
A lot of teams want starting pitchers and will consider Suppan and D'Amico.
Sanders and Stairs could be part-time help for a contender.
Littlefield will listen to offers for any of his players. The Pirates need help in a lot of areas and their Class AAA Nashville farm team doesn't figure to offer any significant talent in 2004.
The Pirates were shooting for .500 this season but seemed to lose that chance in a 7-21 stretch from April 11 to May 13.
Left fielder Brian Giles injured ligaments in his right knee and missed 23 games.
The bullpen, a strength last year, blew several games in the late innings. Relievers Mike Williams, Scott Sauerbeck and Brian Boehringer all had demoralizing late-inning failures.
Rebound
Giles is back and is batting .308 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.
The relievers have gotten better but still aren't at their 2002 level.
Williams, the closer, was selected as the team's lone All-Star but has blown five saves.
Other teams are still interested in Sauerbeck, who has been an effective situational reliever in the past.
Littlefield can also offer players like right-handed pitchers Julian Tavarez and Salomon Torres, along with infielder Jeff Reboulet. Those players wouldn't bring much of value in return, though.
Littlefield could also swing a high-profile trade.
The Pirates would consider offers for pitcher Kris Benson, the No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft who has underachieved this year.
Several teams, including the Dodgers and Yankees, have reportedly expressed interest in Giles, though Littlefield isn't expected to deal him for less than an overwhelming offer.
The second half of the season will be significant not only for where the Pirates finish, but also for how many players from the opening day roster are still on the team when the season ends.