The Pirates selected the contracts of four prospects Tuesday, protecting them from Major League Baseball's Rule 5 draft in December.
Catcher-utilityman Endy Rodriguez, third baseman-utilityman Jared Triolo and right-handed pitchers Mike Burrows and Colin Selby were all added to the roster. To make room, catcher Tyler Heineman and pitchers Jeremy Beasley, Junior Fernandez and Manny Bañuelos were designated for assignment.
Burrows and Rodriguez were two very safe bets considering they are both on Baseball America's top 100 prospect list (No. 93 and 95, respectively). Both players rose up to Class AAA Indianapolis, and Rodriguez was the organization's Honus Wagner Player of the Year.
Burrows, 23, went 5-6 with a 4.01 ERA over 94 1/3 innings this past season. Rodriguez, 22, slashed .323/.407/.590 with 25 home runs, 39 doubles and 95 RBIs.
Selby, 25, went 2-3 with a 2.27 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 35 2/3 innings for Class AA Altoona and Indianapolis this past season. He features upper-90s heat and two high spin breaking pitches. I profiled him earlier this season, which can be found here.
Triolo, 24, slashed .282/.376/.419 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 24 steals. His best skill is his defense, and was recently named the organization's Bill Mazeroski Fielder of the Year. A third baseman by trade, he has branched out to other positions like shortstop and center field.
There were a handful of players who were good candidates to potentially be added, as well, including first baseman Malcom Nunez, catcher-outfielder Blake Sabol, outfielder Matt Gorski -- the organization's Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year -- and several other pitchers. Their omission from the roster does not guarantee they'll be gone, just that the Pirates are risking losing them.
As for who the Pirates let go, Beasley did not reach the majors with the team and Fernandez got a cup of coffee at the end of the season. Heineman caught the second-most innings this past year (386 1/3), though he was very light with the bat. Bañuelos was a serviceable, albeit very inconsistent, left-handed relief option.
The Pirates' roster is currently at 40 players.
The Rule 5 draft this year will take place Dec. 7 as part of the Winter Meetings in San Diego. The non-tender deadline is Friday.
