PITTSBURGH - The Pirates continue to search for players to lead them to a championship.

In CEO Kevin McClatchy's mind, the men to find and lead those players are already in place.

Prior to Monday's 2004 season opener against Philadelphia at PNC Park, McClatchy announced that he has extended general manager Dave Littlefield's contract through 2007.

Littlefield, in turn, picked up manager Lloyd McClendon's option for 2005 and added 2006 as an option year.

"Lloyd is a strong guy who relates well to the players and to the major league game," Littlefield said. "He has grown as a manager.

"He's proven he has the ability to make guys focus on the field and gets the most out of them talent-wise," he added.

Littlefield pointed to the latter half of last season, when McClendon led the Pirates to a 50-48 record after many key veterans were traded for prospects.

"We played better on the field with what was supposed to be a less talented team on the field," Littlefield said.

While McClendon admitted that "for personal reasons, this puts me more at ease," he insisted his job hasn't changed any.

"My job is to get these guys ready to play every day, whether I have an extension or not," McClendon said.

"Kevin and Dave have their evaluations to do … I'm just glad things worked out in my favor. But managers are fired eventually. We all understand that. It's the nature of this business," he added.

During McClendon's first three years at the helm, the Pirates won 62, 72 and 75 games. Pittsburgh is one of four big league clubs to improve its win total during each of the past two seasons.

In Littlefield's first full season as Pirates general manager in 2002, the organization's minor league affiliates combined for 399 wins and produced the second-winningest farms system in the major leagues.

Last year, every Pirate minor league affiliate reached the playoffs and combined to post the best winning percentage among all major league organizations.

"Our minor league system wasn't in very good shape when Dave got here," McClatchy said. "His primary job was to build up our farm system and he's done an incredible job with that.

"We've got a lot of pitching down there. We could use some more position players, but with all of those arms, we'll be able to get some," he added.

McClatchy said he had been talking about a contract extension with Littlefield for several months.

"To his credit, it was never a priority to him," McClatchy said. "Dave is very focused on the job at hand: to bring a championship to Pittsburgh by developing our own talent."

Littlefield described the 2004 Pirates as a team in transition.

Five rookies are on the team, along with other emerging young players such as Tike Redman, Bobby Hill and Ryan Vogelsong. Two of the rookies - second baseman Jose Castillo and left-handed reliever Mike Johnston - made the jump from Class AA.

Young pitchers Sean Burnett and John Van Benschoten - No. 1 draft picks in 2000 and 2001, respectively - pitched well enough to make the club in spring training, but will start the season at Class AAA Nashville.

"You're seeing the future beginning to emerge," Littlefield said. "And there's more coming behind them."

The extension of McClendon's contract was Littlefield's decision.

"But I 100 percent endorse it," McClatchy said. "Lloyd handles the clubhouse well. We need a good teacher and a manager who has the players' respect. Lloyd gives us that."

"I like the mix we have here now," McClendon said. "We have some young players and some solid veteran leaders. Now we have to go to work."