Have Pirates Added Evan Meek to 40-Man Roster?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Nov 4, 2008 5:33 PM EST

WTM just noticed that the Pirates now list Evan Meek on their 40-man roster, even though there hasn't been an announcement about it. Meek needed to be protected to avoid being selected (again) in the Rule 5 draft. Most of us know him from his awful showing with the Bucs earlier this year, but after being sent down and then re-acquired from the Rays, he pitched quite well in the minors. He's also been fairly good in a small sample for Mazatlan in the Mexican Winter League. He's worthy of a roster spot and might well get selected again if left unprotected.

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I’m not sure, but I think if a player is selected a second time in the Rule 5 draft he can be sent to the minors without being offered back.

by WTM on Nov 4, 2008 5:39 PM EST reply actions

I Don't Think So

What would be the rationale for such a rule? Makes no sense to me.

by thegunner on Nov 4, 2008 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

Sure, it makes sense

The idea would be to protect the player from having his career completely screwed up. It’s unfair enough for a guy to have to spend one year hidden on the bench, to say nothing of two years.

by WTM on Nov 4, 2008 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

WTM is right.

When a Rule 5 pick is returned to you, you’re technically giving him an outright assignement to the minors… and it’s in the CBA that a player is allowed to opt for free agency when he’s given the second (or third, or fourth…) outright assignment of his career. And while he doesn’t HAVE to become a FA if he doesn’t want, most guys who have been picked twice in the ML Rule 5 are going to see better opportunities outside their initial organization than in it.

by Vlad on Nov 5, 2008 8:32 AM EST up reply actions

Subtracting the 4 FA's

leaves 35 on the 40 man roster…and that’s counting Gorzo and Dumatrait. Sure there’s movement coming in the next week or so.

by Thunder on Nov 5, 2008 12:43 AM EST reply actions

What happened with Shane Victorino?

He was selected twice in the Rule 5 draft.

by thegunner on Nov 5, 2008 9:48 AM EST reply actions

Victorino is complicated.

He didn’t stick with the Phillies after he was selected for the second time, but LA declined to pay the $25k price to take him back after he cleared waivers. He then had a right to become a free agent, but instead accepted the Phillies outright assignment to the minors, where he showed positive development and was subsequently re-added to Philly’s 40-man roster. (Background confirmed here).

Some other players have also been selected more than once – Hector Luna is one that jumps to my mind.

by Vlad on Nov 5, 2008 12:28 PM EST up reply actions