SAN DIEGO -- Major-league rosters are expanding to 26 players in 2020. For a team like the Pirates, that presents an opportunity to take a player in the Rule 5 draft, which will happen during the final day of the Winter Meetings Thursday, noon Eastern time.
However, Ben Cherington does not believe that spot has to be used on a Rule 5 pick.
"I think it allows us to be kind of open-minded about using that spot, whether it’s in the Rule 5 Draft or it’s some other opportunity this offseason to use a roster spot to either complement the team or find a way to access a player who might have some growth potential left or whatever it is," Cherington said Wednesday.