Ben Cherington implodes Pirates roster (again) after unexpected Rule 5 decisions

The Pirates did some of their Rule 5 homework ahead of time, days and even weeks before the 6 PM, Nov. 18 deadline to add prospects to the 40-man and protect them from the draft, but no one could've foreseen what Pittsburgh actually ended up pulling on Tuesday.

Ryan Harbin was added on Nov. 7 and kept out of minor league free agency, just a few days after two huge roster shuffles jettisoned Liover Peguero, Ji-Hwan Bae, Jack Little, Dugan Darnell, and Michael Darrell-Hicks. On Monday, Cam Devanney left MLB altogether to pursue an opportunity in Japan, which cleared up another spot on the 40-man.

Come deadline day, six Rule 5-eligible prospects were added to the 40-man: Esmerlyn Valdez, Wilber Dotel, Antoine Kelly, Brandan Bidois (no surprises there), Jack Brannigan (surprise), and Tyler Samaniego (huge surprise).

The unexpected overflow led to another crazed roster implosion. Colin Holderman, Alexander Canario, Ronny Simon, and Dauri Moreta were all designated for assignment to make room for the influx.

There were far more deserving players on both the protection and DFA fronts, but there's usually no making sense of Ben Cherington's maneuvers, so why start now?

Ben Cherington adds six Pirates prospects to 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, DFA four players

Righty Samaniego was on absolutely no one's radar ahead of the protection deadline, and for good reason. After signing with the Pirates as an undrafted free agent in 2021, he had a respectable first few years as professional, posting a 1.29 ERA in Single-A in 2021 and then a 2.45 ERA in High- and Double-A in 2022, but he couldn't keep the same momentum. Through 2025, he has yet to break Double-A and spent the majority of this past season injured.

Moreta's DFA feels like a slap in the face after the Pirates spent the better part of two years trying to get him back on the mound while also sending him up and down from the majors to Triple-A. The trouble started in August 2023, and then he missed all of 2024 with ligament damage. He started 2025 on the 60-day IL following Tommy John.

He got 16 2/3 innings in the majors this season between trips to Indianapolis and made a respectable go of it when he was in the big leagues, pitching to a 3.24 ERA. Cam Sanders, who pitched 6 2/3 innings for a 8.10 ERA, somehow survived the crunch.

Yeah, we're just as confused as you are.