When Pirates general manager Neal Huntington traded what amounted to seven of the top 15 players on the roster last summer, one would have thought that he had dealt the Three Rivers in return for Lake Shitagoo or something.

Nate McLouth? Freddy Sanchez? Jack Wilson? What in the name of Branch Rickey was he thinkin', anyway?

As was the case at the time of the trades, it's premature to pass final judgment on any of them. In the first month of the season, though, it's safe to say that the Pirates didn't miss many of these guys.

McLouth, Atlanta Braves ($5.0-million salary, .175 batting average, 2 homers, 4 RBI): Switched to contact lenses after last season – Nate the Grate chided the Pirates for their eye examinations – and the results couldn't be worse. This much is clear: He struck out 18 times in 57 at-bats.

Sanchez, San Francisco Giants ($6.0, .000, 0, 0): Had yet to play a game this season after left shoulder surgery last December. The 32-year-old could return next week. Meanwhile, he has two more extra-base hits than a dead person since the trade.

Wilson, Mariners ($5.0, .238, 0, 7): Jack be nimble in the field, but Jack be hurt often. Now he has a bum right thumb. At 32, he's not an everyday player any more.

John Grabow, Chicago Cubs ($2.7, 0-2 record, 6.23 earned run average) : He appeared in 70-plus games in three of the last four seasons. Has the workload started to catch up to him finally?

Adam LaRoche, Arizona Diamondbacks ($4.5, .292, 4, 17): He was a career .195 hitter in April before this season. And to think he wasn't even the hottest hitter in the LaRoche family . . .

Nyjer Morgan, Washington Nationals ($426,000, .287, 0, 6). Hit for average but wasn't the speed threat that the Nats had expected – six steals in 10 attempts. Scouts will tell you that he's a fourth or fifth outfielder with a contender.

Ian Snell, Seattle Mariners ($4.45, 0-2, 4.66): Started in the rotation, recently demoted to long relief. Not through any fault of his own, of course.

April totals: $28.076 million, .252 batting average, 6 homers, 34 RBI, 0-4 record, 5.14 ERA.