Wait, the Pirates Actually Did Hire Huntington

Last week, reports started circulating that the Pirates had hired Neal Huntington to be their new general manager. Before the words "Neal who?" were even out of our mouths, the team disputed the news, saying the search was anything but over. Today, not surprisingly, we find out the initial news was in fact correct: Pirates COO Frank Coonelly announced to the fans on the team's official site that Huntington has in fact taken the job:

After a comprehensive search for a baseball executive who can restore the culture of success within the Pirates organization, Neal is absolutely the right choice to lead our baseball operations department and to build a winning organization of which all Pirates fans can be proud.

As you get to know Neal and hear from him personally, you will see that he is extremely intelligent, analytical and driven to succeed. Neal is highly regarded throughout the game as an outstanding evaluator of talent and as one of the young executives who understands and utilizes the most sophisticated statistical and analytical tools of the trade.

Coonelly goes on to cite Huntington's track-record with the Indians, crediting him with the decisions to draft C.C. Sabathia and signed Fausto Carmona, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta, as well as trading for Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner. It's awfully generous to credit Huntington for those moves simply because he happened to work in the front office at the time -- by that measure, should Huntington be held accountable for the Tribe giving up on Brandon Phillips too early or and trading Coco Crisp for Andy Marte? Either way, Pittsburgh has their man, for better or worse. If Huntington is a bit overwhelmed by the job, Baseball Prospectus lays out a plan for turning the franchise around.

Previously on FanHouse:
What, Exactly, Are the Pirates Doing?
Pirates Denying GM Reports
Report: Pirates Pick Neal Huntington to Be GM