Pirates Fire McClendon as Manager

Lloyd McClendon, an aggressive former player known for his competitiveness and frequent run-ins with umpires, was fired Tuesday as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates after averaging more than 90 losses since 2001.

Bench coach Pete Mackanin will be the interim manager for the rest of the season.

The Pirates, who this season began a concerted effort to rebuild with youth, are a National League-worst 55-82.

“The way we’ve played the last three months hasn’t been up to our capabilities,” General Manager Dave Littlefield said. “We have higher expectations with the players we have. We should be performing better.”

McClendon says he expects to manage again and hopes to be back in the majors in some capacity next season.

“I’m 46, there’s a lot of managing left in me, about 20 years’ worth,” he said.

*

Right-hander Jae Seo has pitched his way into a permanent spot in the New York Met rotation, and right-hander Victor Zambrano will move to the bullpen, Manager Willie Randolph said.

Seo, a 28-year-old South Korean, is 7-1 with a 1.79 earned-run average, and is 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA in six starts since returning last month from triple-A Norfolk.

Zambrano is 7-11 with a 4.17 ERA. He hasn’t made a relief appearance since June 2004 with Tampa Bay.

*

Chicago Cub right-hander Kerry Wood says he expects to be ready for spring training.

Wood had shoulder surgery last week to reinforce the labrum and clean the rotator cuff and bursa.

*

The New York Yankees presented a check for $1 million to the Salvation Army for its Hurricane Katrina relief effort before the start of Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay.