The Pirates set their 40-man roster Friday night by adding right-hander Clay Holmes, protecting the 23-year-old prospect from being selected by another team in the Rule 5 draft next month.
Holmes, a ninth-round draft pick in 2011, had a 4.22 ERA in 26 starts last season for Class AA Altoona. He underwent Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in 2014 and returned the following season to post a 2.48 ERA over 36⅓ innings at the rookie and Class A levels.
The Pirates’ 40-man roster is full. It includes 19 pitchers, 12 infielders, five outfielders and four catchers. Earlier this month, right-hander Dovydas Neverauskas and corner infielder/outfielder Jose Osuna were added to the 40-man roster to avoid them reaching minor league free agency.
The Rule 5 draft takes place at the conclusion of the winter meetings, which this year will wrap Dec. 8 in National Harbor, Md. Players are eligible if they have not been to the 40-man roster either four or five years after they signed their first professional contract, depending on their age when they signed. Draft-eligible players left unprotected can be selected by other clubs for $50,000. Draft order is determined by reverse order of the 2016 standings. The Minnesota Twins, who were 59-103 this year, will have first pick this year in the Rule 5 draft.
A player selected in the Rule 5 draft must be placed on the 25-man roster for the entire 2017 season. If the new team wishes to part with the player, they must place him on waivers and, if he clears waivers, offer him back to his original team at the price of $25,000.
The Pirates left a few intriguing prospects unprotected, starting with outfielder Barrett Barnes, 25. A supplemental first-round pick in 2012, Barnes struggled at the plate for four years in the minors before breaking through to hit .306 with nine home runs this season for Altoona.
Other potential adds were third baseman Eric Wood, 23, who is lighting up the Arizona Fall League, and catchers Jacob Stallings, 26, and Jin-De Jhang, 23. Right-hander John Kuchno and left-hander Jared Lakind, both relief pitchers, also were left unprotected.
The Pirates’ next roster decisions coincide with the non-tender deadline Dec. 2. Among the arbitration-eligible players on shaky footing are left-handers Jeff Locke and Wade LeBlanc.
Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.
First Published: November 18, 2016, 11:24 p.m.
