These Pirates players are in danger after team's Rule 5 Draft roster decisions

The deadline for MLB clubs to protect prospects from being exposed in this year's Rule 5 Draft has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have elected not to add any eligible players to their 40-man roster.

It's not a total surprise, as the vast majority of Pittsburgh's Top-30 prospects are still ineligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft set for Dec. 11 in Dallas. Still, the decision not to add any players to their 40-man roster by the Nov. 19 deadline means the Pirates could risk losing some promising young talent to another team next month.

Many teams will choose not to make any selections at the Rule 5 Draft, but here are two eligible Pirates prospects who could entice rival clubs to make a move.

These Pirates players are in danger after team's Rule 5 Draft roster decisions

Omar Alfonzo (C)

Of the Pirates' Top 30 prospects (per MLB Pipeline), catcher Omar Alfonzo is the only one who is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this year. Alfonzo, who was signed by the Pirates in 2019 as a free agent, started the 2024 season in Single-A Bradenton before earning a promotion to High-A Greensboro in August. He slashed .252/.357/.403 across both levels and saw time at first base, as well as behind the plate.

MLB Pipeline ranks Alfonzo as the Pirates' No. 26 prospect and profiles him as a "solid average defender" who has the potential to have some serious impact at the plate. However, he has yet to develop into a true power hitter; that, combined with the fact that the Pirates already have a backlog ahead of him at the catcher position, makes Alfonzo expendable to Pittsburgh in the possible (albeit unlikely) event that another team decides to snatch him up at the Rule 5 Draft and attempt to carry him for the full 162.

Sammy Siani (OF)

Outfielder Sammy Siani presented an interesting case for the Pirates ahead of the Rule 5 protection deadline. While he does not rank among Pittsburgh's top-30 prospects – and would therefore not typically even be mentioned in a discussion about Rule 5 protection – he has been one of the best hitters in the Arizona Fall League this year, continuing the upward trajectory that began during his breakout 2024 season that earned him a promotion to Double-A Altoona.

Siani is a contact hitter who can play all three outfield positions and has the potential to be a Major League depth option for the Pirates next season if his offensive production continues to improve. However, it appears that the club simply hasn't seen enough to warrant adding him to their 40-man roster when he has yet to play a game above the Double-A level.

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