Dave Littlefield

The Pirates finally fired Dave Littlefield. Finally! Inept - thy name is Littlefield.

It looks like Littlefield may have had the last laugh on the Pirates though. Not only is he under contract for 2008 (good thing because who in their right mind would ever hire him after what he did in Pittsburgh the past 7 years) but he has also basically screwed the pooch for whoever replaces him for 2008.

The Pirates had a payroll of about $38.5 million this year and next year that number should not go up very much. However, next year they will have 4 players under contract who will take up $25.5 million (which would be 64% of a $40 million budget). The players are:

Matt Morris $9.5 million
Jack Wilson $6.5 million
Jason Bay $5.75 million
Salomon Torres $3.75 million

Only Jason Bay is a player who you'd really want on your roster - never mind taking up most of the available salary space. The screw job on next year's budget is so bad you have to wonder if Littlefield did it on purpose as some sort of twisted revenge.

Even with being off the hook on any more payments on the Jason Kendall contract - the next GM may have to put together a Jason Bay and Matt Morris trade package (with teams having to take Morris to get Bay) to get any sort of workable budget room. If the next GM is good - then Bay may net them a Hanley Ramirez type player in exchange.