NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL Bucs deal Ramirez, Lofton to Cubs

Cash-strapped Pittsburgh received Jose Hernandez and two minor leaguers.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs made a big move in the NL Central race even on a night they lost a game and lost ground to the division-leading Astros.
The Cubs filled the two biggest holes in their lineup with a single trade, acquiring power-hitting third baseman Aramis Ramirez and center fielder Kenny Lofton from the Pirates on Tuesday. They did so without weakening their everyday lineup or giving up any top prospects.
With the cash-strapped Pirates looking to shed Ramirez's $6 million salary for 2004 as they rebuild yet again with young players, all it took to make the deal was strikeout-prone infielder Jose Hernandez and two minor leaguers.
Sosa happy with trade
Sammy Sosa, envisioning a middle of the order with Ramirez and Moises Alou hitting behind him, found it almost too good to be true.
"This was the time to make a move. I think it's awesome," he said.
Ramirez is erratic defensively but has driven in 250 runs in little more than 21/2 seasons and is only 25.
Only minutes after the Pirates' 2-0 loss to Houston, he was already looking forward to playing in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.
He'll get that chance tonight, when the Cubs play the Phillies.
"They're a good team and with Sammy and Moises there. ... I hope they'll help take me to the next level," said Ramirez, who is batting .280 with 67 RBIs.
Ramirez has been a cornerstone of the Pirates' rebuilding efforts since 1998, only to become too expensive for a team that has lost tens of millions of dollars since it opened PNC Park in 2001.
"In Ramirez, we obviously needed a third baseman and in Kenny Lofton we got a quality leadoff man," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "Ramirez is a guy who has quietly knocked in a lot of runs this year. He's battled some inconsistencies, but he's a good, young player."
Chicago has sought a center fielder since Corey Patterson went down with a torn knee ligament earlier this month.
The deal reunites Lofton with Dusty Baker, his manager with the NL champion Giants last season.
"This is what I like to play for, to try to get to the playoffs," Lofton said. "I like to win."
Pirates slash payroll
There probably won't be much of that going on any time soon in Pittsburgh. With ownership now determined to cut the payroll from $57 million to a significantly smaller figure next season, general manager Dave Littlefield has begun a fire sale of players that probably isn't over yet.
In just three days, Littlefield has traded two regulars and his two top relievers, All-Star Mike Williams and left-hander Scott Sauerbeck, while getting only marginal prospects in return.
The only major leaguers coming to the Pirates are the 34-year-old Hernandez, who is hitting .227 and leads the NL with 121 strikeouts, and reliever Brandon Lyon, acquired from the Red Sox earlier Tuesday in the Sauerbeck trade.
The Pirates also got minor league pitcher Matt Bruback and a player to be named from the Cubs. Bruback is 6-8 with a 3.96 ERA at Triple-A Iowa.
Giles could be next
Brian Giles, the Pirates' most coveted player, knows he might be the next to go. The Athletics are among the teams interested in him.
"Our general manager felt it was time to try to get guys in here who were younger, and it looks like that's what we're doing," Giles said. "Even though they're conceding the season, there are a lot of guys in here who have things to prove."
Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon knows the fans will be perplexed by a deal many will perceive as a sign the team has given up on winning in the short term.
"I don't think people quite understand what we're trying to do," McClendon said. "We're trying to get better. Sometimes you have to take a step backward to get better."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.