6/17 11:44: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates added a y ear to Huntington’s three-year contract and the team exercised teh 2011 option on Russell’s contract.

6/17 12:23: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com, Pirates president Frank Coonelly confirmed that during the offseason, the Pirates extended both and Hunting and Russell through 2011.

6/17 12:14: According to one Major League source of Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Pittsburgh Pirates have already extended GM Neal Huntington’s contract through 2011 and the team may have exercised manager John Russell’s club option for 2010.

Club president Frank Coonelly, citing club policy about “non-player personnel,” would not comment on the contracts of Russell and Huntington.

“Even though that policy has been unsuccessful in eliminating or even reducing the speculation regarding potential dismissals of valued employees, we are going to continue to decline to discuss the status of these employees,” Coonelly said in an e-mail. “They are very well aware of our expectations as an organization and how we feel about them as members of the organization.”

Over the last coupel of days, rumors have circulated about Russell being fired. FOXSports said that there is sentiment within the organization to dismiss Russell to send a message to fans that the club is making an effort for a positive change.

Russell is in his third season with the Pirates and has a 152-234 (.394) record. Bench coach Gary Varsho and Triple-A manager Frank Kremblas and Double-A manager Matt Walbeck would be the leading candidates to replace Russell on an interim basis.

Outside candidates include former Indians manager Eric Wedge and Cardinals bench coach Jose Oquendo.