Pirates extend Littlefield's contract

PITTSBURGH, April 3 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates extended David Littlefield's contract by a year Monday through the 2008 season.

Littlefield is the 12th longest-tenured general manager in the Major Leagues.

While Littlefield has not yet had a winning season with the Pirates, owner Kevin McClatchy credited him with building up talent in the Pirates' farm teams.

"We are beginning to see the results of those efforts, as we see more homegrown talent at the major-league level," McClatchy told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Littlefield was hired July 13, 2001, and now has a contract running through 2008. The Pirates, under his guidance, have won 314 games and lost 407 for a winning percentage of .436.