PITTSBURGH -- The free agent frenzy won't begin for another couple of weeks, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are already feeling like they've landed a major difference maker for 2006.

Tuesday, the Pirates concluded the search for someone to lead their talented but inexperienced roster by agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with former Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Jim Tracy.

Ultimately, it was Tracy's resume as a winning big league manager and his ability to communicate and teach young players that led GM Dave Littlefield to go with Tracy over the other two candidates who had been interviewed for the position -- former Oakland A's manager Ken Macha and Atlanta Braves third base coach Fredi Gonzalez.

"[Tracy] has a lot of experience and he's someone whose dealt with younger players and done a very good job in the past," said Littlefield, who worked with Tracy when both were employed by the Expos during the late 1990s.

"I worked with Jim myself for about six years. I have a good feel for his philosophy and I'm very comfortable with him leading us forward and getting us back to winning ways."

Tracy, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on New Year's Eve, compiled a 427-383 managerial record in five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001-05 before reaching a mutual agreement with the club last week to part ways. He led Los Angeles to at least 85 wins in each of his first four seasons at the helm, including a 93-win campaign in 2004 when he guided the Dodgers to the National League West Division crown.

In addition to his tenure as the Dodgers skipper, Tracy has spent time in the big leagues as a player and coach. He batted .249 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 87 games with the Chicago Cubs in 1980-81. After amassing a 501-486 record in seven seasons as a Minor League manager, Tracy spent four seasons as a bench coach under Felipe Alou in Montreal and two seasons as Davey Johnson's bench coach.

Tracy accepted the position with the Pirates because he believes that he can play a pivotal role in bringing out the best in the team's core of inexperienced players.

"The youth of this ballclub and the potential of some of the players, not only currently on the Major League team but also some of the talent that is now beginning to blossom at the Minor League level, is something that is really intriguing to me," said Tracy.

"I would not have been interested in this position if I didn't feel strongly that myself and the coaching staff that we'll put together can make a difference and move forward."

Tracy said he looks forward to the challenge of attempting to lead the Pirates to their first winning season since 1992.

"Challenges are something that I like very, very much," said Tracy. "I take a lot of pride in the fact of having people suggest or hearing them say or maybe think that this is a situation that you don't have a chance to succeed at. ... That is the ultimate challenge."

"I think the personnel is here to get that done," Tracy added. "I think a group of players have to understand the type of baseball you have to play in order to play winning baseball. You have to realize the importance of the intangibles, the little things."

Time and again during his meeting with reporters Tuesday, Tracy stressed the importance of solid fundamentals as the difference between winning and losing at the big league level.

"There are a lot of intangibles that go along with winning baseball. It's not just the physical aspects that you see on the field," said Tracy. "It's the interaction of the manager with his players. It's the interaction of the manager with his coaches. It's an understanding that the manager gets across to his players of the fact that in order to play winning baseball you have to work with one another, you have to understand one another and you have to anticipate what one another are going to do in different situations.

"That is a philosophy that I have held for the previous five years in Los Angeles. Until someone proves me differently, it's one that I firmly believe in."

Repeatedly teaching solid fundamentals to players until they become second nature, said Tracy, is imperative.

"It seems like there is a [belief] that just because a guy walks through the clubhouse door that he completely knows how to play the game. I totally disagree with that, especially when they are 22- and 23-year-olds and how quickly guys arrive at the Major League level," said Tracy. "You're really hurting yourself as the guy in charge if you just take for granted that the guy knows how to play the game intelligently, completely."

Tracy will waste no time getting acclimated to his new team. He will travel to Bradenton, Fla., with Littlefield on Tuesday night for the start of the annual organizational meetings.

"We're certainly pleased to have him down there, particularly where we're going to be talking about the club and reviewing and planning for the upcoming year," said Littlefield.

The makeup of the remainder of big league coaching staff is sure to rank high on the team's priority list. Tracy, who said he would "strongly consider" those coaches who had been with him in the past with the Dodgers, will work in cooperation with Littlefield to fill the coaching vacancies.

"We'll continue to be aggressive here in the next couple of weeks to get that staff put together," said Littlefield.