Pirates Close to Hiring New GM

Pirates may be settling on Huntington as GM

      PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are planning a news
conference as early as Tuesday to announce their new general
manager, a sign they may have settled on Indians executive Neal
Huntington as their choice.
      Huntington currently serves as a special assistant to Cleveland
general manager Mark Shapiro. He emerged as the front-runner for
the Pittsburgh post late last week and there has been no sign that
the club is moving its search elsewhere.
      Huntington would replace Dave Littlefield, who was fired earlier
this month after failing to produce a winning season since being
hired in July 2001. The Pirates had their ninth straight loss today
and were assured of their fifth season with 90 or more losses since
2000.
      Frank Coonelly, hired less than two weeks ago as the Pirates'
president, issued a statement today that the team has not altered
its search but is moving forward in a "thorough and deliberate
manner."
     
      (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)