Manager: Gene Lamont

1999 record: 178-83, third place.

Who's new: OF Bruce Aven (trade/Marlins), OF Wil Cordero (free agent/Indians), 3B Luis Sojo (free agent/Yankees), RHP Mark Leiter (free agent/Mariners), OF John VanderWal (trade/Padres).

Who's gone: OF Brant Brown (trade/Marlins), OF Al Martin (trade/Padres), RHP Brad Clontz (trade/Diamondbacks), 3B Ed Sprague (free agent/Padres), C Joe Oliver (free agent/Mariners).

Hot shot: CF Chad Hermansen and 3B Aramis Ramirez. The jewels of the Pirates farm system will get an opportunity to start this season in the big leagues. Ramirez hit .328 with 21 home runs and Hermansen combined 32 home runs with 19 stolen bases at AAA Nashville last season. Both must prove they can play in the field and help a Pirates defense that committed 147 errors last season.

Hot spot: Cordero. The Pirates sent Martin to the Padres in the offseason and are banking on Cordero to take his place. Cordero has the ability to hit for power, but must stay healthy and out of trouble-something he has not done since '95.

They'll dethrone the Yankees if: A move to PNC Park in 2001 gives the Pirates some money to play with. It won't happen this year, but an increase to baseball's fourth-lowest payroll combined with one of the best farm systems should make the Bucs a contender in the future.

Bottom line: A respectable season is no longer good enough for the Pirates. With a promising pitching staff anchored by Kris Benson and Jason Schmidt and the return of Jason Kendall and Pat Meares from injuries, the pressure is on Lamont to finish with a winning record for the first time since '92.