Bucs want to sign Bay long-term

BALL BUZZ

The Pittsburgh Pirates, reluctant to sign players to multiyear contracts following a series of bad signings preceding their 2001 move into PNC Park, have opened talks with Canadian outfielder Jason Bay on a longterm deal.

Bay, of Trail, B. C., is enjoying a second consecutive strong season with a plus-. 300 average, 30 homers, 20 stolen bases and 90 RBIs. He is the first Pirates player since Barry Bonds in 1992 to have at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season and last season became the first player in club history to win the NL rookie- of- the- year award.

“ We have made Jason an offer,” GM Dave Littlefield said last night. “ He’s a well- rounded player and he’s performing at a high level. We also have a great deal of trust in what he will be able to do in the future.’’ Bay is earning $ 350,000 ( U. S.) this season. CIRCLE TIGHTENS:

Congressional investigators looking into whether Rafael Palmeiro lied under oath are interviewing players who know him, including Colorado outfielder Jorge Piedra, who is suspended this year for steroids.

Palmeiro testified to the House Government Reform Committee in March that he never had used steroids. CARDINALS FEVER:

It took about two hours yesterday for the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals to sell out all of their playoff games leading up the World Series.

Tickets for the division series and the NLCS went on sale at 9 a. m. yesterday and were sold out by around 11 a. m. World Series tickets will be sold later. The Cardinals became the first team to clinch a playoff berth after beating the Chicago Cubs 6- 1 Thursday. At 95- 56, they have baseball’s best record and will have home- field advantage in all NL playoff games. O-DOG ON MEND:

Injured second baseman Orlando Hudson could be ready to rejoin the Blue Jays in time for a weekend series in New York against the Yankees. “ Maybe by the end of the week he’ll be ready to go,” manager John Gibbons said.