One Rule 5 Draft Option For Pirates to Consider (+)

In recent years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been active in the annual Rule 5 Draft in December.

Before we get into it, let’s talk about the rules. Players eligible for the Rule 5 draft are not on the 40-man roster. Teams must protect players who originally signed at 19 years or older within four years of signing. Players who signed at 18 years old or younger must be added to the 40-man roster within five years.

If a team selects a player, they must remain on that team’s active roster or the injured list for the duration of the season. Otherwise, a player becomes subject to waivers and must be offered back to the original team for $50,000 if they clear.