Evan Meek News

The Pirates Thursday selected outfielder John Raynor off the Florida Marlins' Triple-A roster in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft.

Rob Biertempfel is the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Pirates beat writer. He can be reached at 412-320-7811 or via e-mail. This year's talent pool of Rule 5 draft candidates is not as deep as in recent years.

With expectations low for the Pirates' level of activity at the Winter Meetings next week in Indianapolis, it could be that their biggest splash will come from that grand leftover pool known as the Rule 5 draft.

The Pirates this afternoon cut loose starter-reliever Jeff Karstens and officially added hard-throwing reliever Ramon Aguero, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez plus starters Brad Lincoln and Bryan Morris to their 40-man roster, thus protecting those minor leaguers from being exposed for other teams to choose in the Rule 5 draft Dec.

Haven't done one of these in a while, so let's catch up with the Pirate prospects playing in various parts of the Western Hemisphere this fall.

With the Rule 5 Draft approaching, the Pirates needed to make some roster moves.

Akinori Iwamura isn't going to make the Pirates a winning baseball team. He's a nice player and a viable starting second baseman, provided he is healthy.

If the Pirates are going to succeed with home-grown players, they must produce breakthrough seasons at an above-average rate.

They travel to play in California four separate times: in April, May, June and August.

ON DECK: PITTSBURGH at Astros When/where: 7:05 p.m. today, 6:05 p.m. Saturday, 1:05 p.m. Sunday; Minute Maid Park.

Nate McLouth: Injured hamstring, reinjured hamstring, disabled list. One look at all the injuries sustained by players recently traded by the Pirates, and it is enough make one wonder if there is some sort of pox upon them ... Xavier Nady: Reconstructive elbow surgery, out almost all of this season.

After a hiatus that included left shoulder surgery, reoccurring setbacks and a frustrating 401 days off a Major League field, Phil Dumatrait is back and able to pitch.

After a hiatus that included left shoulder surgery, reoccurring setbacks and a frustrating 401 days off a Major League field, Phil Dumatrait is back and able to pitch.

Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno broke the tip of his right pinky finger and will be out until at least Tuesday.

After a hiatus that included left shoulder surgery, reoccurring setbacks and a frustrating 401 days off a Major League field, Phil Dumatrait is back and able to pitch.

As the Pirates close out a three-game series against the Cubs, they'll do so with some fresh faces who weren't here when the team first arrived Thursday night.

On Friday, catcher Ryan Doumit, bothered by soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist, was out of the lineup for the second game in a row.

The Pirates placed reliever Evan Meek on the 15-day disabled list today with a left oblique strain and recalled RHP Steven Jackson from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The ninth often is Baseball's most pressure-packed inning. Yet, for the Pirates , the eighth has been the deadliest inning.

The following is a listing of players with Bellevue ties playing professional baseball.