ST. LOUIS -- General manager Dave Littlefield has overseen the past 5 1/2 seasons of the Pirates' 14-year losing streak, but he will be back in 2007.

Kevin McClatchy, the managing general partner, reiterated that in no uncertain terms this weekend.

"Nothing's changed from what I've said before: Dave will be back," McClatchy said.

Littlefield is under contract until 2008, the result of a one-year extension signed April 3. But anytime a sports executive goes so long without winning -- and, in Littlefield's case, the Pirates' record likely will have regressed each of the past four seasons by the time this one ends -- some doubt tends to be raised about whether the team will honor that contract in its entirety.

McClatchy made clear his stance that there should be no doubt.

"No, not at all," he said. "I think we've done some good things in improving the minor-league system and getting it to feed the major-league club. I think you're seeing that now, when you look around the diamond and see Ronny Paulino and Jose Bautista and a lot of folks who came up from our system this year. I think Dave and his staff have done a good job in that regard."

McClatchy added that he is not satisfied with the outcome to date, though.

"Obviously, there's one piece that we have not accomplished, and that's to win. And Dave would tell you the same thing. His job is not done successfully until we win. But I think we're starting to see what I think is the framework we need to do that. We're pretty well set at most every position. I think it's a job that's been successful in some areas, and there's still a ways to go in others."

In addition to being the National League's worst team this season, the Pirates have a minor-league system nearly depleted of prospects at the top two levels, Class AAA Indianapolis and Class AA Altoona. There has been a recent influx from lower levels, notably the promotions of outfielder Andrew McCutchen and catcher Neil Walker to Altoona, but those rosters remain dominated by journeymen.

Littlefield's explanation has been that, because the Pirates have moved so many young players to the majors the past two years, a temporary void at those levels was inevitable. It is a view shared, apparently, by McClatchy.

"I wouldn't expect that, if you bring a bunch of guys up to the majors, you'd have nine guys right below them ready to step in. I don't think that's realistic," McClatchy said. "And we do have McCutchen, Walker and some guys making their way up now. It's just a matter of restocking, and we'll see over the next couple of years."

He added that, because the Pirates are satisfied with more pieces at the major-league level than in the recent past, the urgency to replenish the system is not as great.

"When you see somebody like Paulino, it's safe to say he's going to be our catcher for a number of years. Same thing with Freddy Sanchez and other guys. We're going to have this team together for a while, which will allow the system time to restock. We don't have a crisis at catcher right now. We don't have a crisis at shortstop, second base, left field ... and you can keep going."

Littlefield, 45, was hired July 13, 2001, and his .428 winning percentage is the lowest of any active general manager in Major League Baseball.