Pirates Fire General Manager Neal Huntington

PITTSBURGH, PA - Neal Huntington has been dismissed as Pittsburgh Pirates general manager, the team announced Monday.

Huntington has been the Bucs' GM since September 2007. Since then, the Pirates have had four winning seasons, their first since 1992, and made three National League Wild Card playoff games. But the Pirates failed to win a division title during his tenure and finished in the National Leage Central basement this past season.

"I greatly appreciate Neal's dedication to the Pirates organization and our city over the past 12 years," owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. "His time with the Pirates should always be remembered for ending a long stretch of futility and bringing postseason baseball back to Pittsburgh.

"This past season was by far the most frustrating and challenging season that I have experienced as owner. It became clear to me as the season progressed that significant change was necessary in order to refresh our entire operations."

Hutnington's dismissal comes as the Pirates plan to introduce new team President Travis Williams on Monday. He succeeds Frank Coonelly, who left the organization last week.

With the firing of manager Clint Hurdle prior to the season's final game, the Pirates will have an all-new management team in 2020.

Nutting said it was critical to have Williams on board to conduct the search for Huntington's successor.

"We will immediately begin the search process. I am confident we will find the right person," Nutting said. "While we will pause the managerial search process for the time begin, we are appreciative of the work that has been done thus far and confident in the candidates available to us."

Huntington was dismissed with two years remaining on his contract. Kevan Graves, the assistant general manager, will serve as interim GM.