The Pittsburgh Pirates have added right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes to their 40 man roster. This was done in order to protect him from next month’s Rule 5 Draft. The 23-year old Holmes was the Pirates’ ninth round draft pick in 2011.
This move comes as a perplexing one to me. The reason I do not understand it is that Clay Holmes almost assuredly would not have been selected in the Rule 5 Draft. And even if he would have been, in my opinion, he would not have been a big enough of a loss that he is worth protecting on the 40 man roster.