Notebook: Pirates lose three players in Rule 5 draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Pirates farm system that once was ridiculed for having too few prospects took a big hit in the major-league portion of the Rule 5 draft Monday, losing three players.

Drafted from the Pirates farm system were right-hander Danny Carrasco and catcher Ronny Paulino by the Kansas City Royals and right-hander Chris Spurling by the Atlanta Braves. Lost in the minor-league portion of the draft were catcher/infielder Rico Washington and left-hander Mike Bumatay. The Pirates drafted right-hander Matt Roney from the Colorado Rockies organization in the major-league phase, then traded him to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations believed to be $25,000. The Pirates didn't make a pick in the minor-league phase.

"We expected to lose some players, and the ones on the list were the ones we expected to lose," said Brian Graham, the Pirates director of player development. "There weren't really any surprises. You don't want to lose anybody, but you can't protect everybody at the highest level."

That the Pirates lost three players shows the strides the organization has made in the past season under Graham's watch.

"It's a compliment to our depth and a compliment to the years the players had individually," he said. "We had a tremendous number of players have very good years. That's what opens the eyes of scouts from other organizations."

Carrasco was 4-4 with a 1.61 ERA and 29 saves in 55 appearances at Class A Lynchburg. But he will turn 26 in April and hasn't pitched above the Class AA level. Paulino, 21, batted .262 with 12 homers and 55 RBI in 119 games with Lynchburg. Spurling, 25, spent a second consecutive season at Class AA Altoona and was 4-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 20 saves last season. He was acquired in the Aug. 7, 2000 deal that sent infielder Luis Sojo to the New York Yankees.

Players left unprotected on the 40-man roster and taken in the Rule 5 draft must remain in the majors with their new team for the entire season or be offered back to their original organization for half of the $50,000 purchase price.

Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield wasn't surprised to lose any of the three players.

"We're trying to get better at the major-league level and win more games," he said. "We felt these guys weren't going to help as much as others on the roster. Time will tell us whether we were right."

One former Pirates player taken in the draft was outfielder Adrian Brown. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox off Tampa Bay's Class AAA Durham roster.

AT THE TOPPS OF THE LIST

For the first time since the award's inception in 1966, the Pirates were named the Topps Organization of the Year.

The honor is based on the number of players in an organization's farm system who have received Topps awards during the season. Points are based on All-Star players, players of the month, Trautman and Spinks Award winners and for major-league rookies who made the Topps rookie All-Star team.

The Pirates had 19 players selected to All-Star teams last season. The organization also produced a 399-300 record, with all six affiliates having winning seasons. Only the Cleveland Indians produced more wins in the minors. In addition, two of the Pirates farm teams won league championships.

"I'm a little surprised, it was unexpected," said Graham, who replaced Paul Tinnell after the 2001 season. "We made great strides this year from a development standpoint. Winning two championships and having four teams in the playoffs is gratifying, but what you like is the improvement that players made individually."

Among the players who earned individual awards were outfielders Tony Alvarez, B.J. Barns, Josh Bonifay and Rajai Davis, pitcher Sean Burnett, first baseman Walter Young and infielder Jose Castillo.

TRADE HALFWAY COMPLETED

It's one down and one to go for the Pirates in completing their trade for Detroit Tigers first baseman Randall Simon. They sent minor-league right-hander Roberto Novoa to the Tigers as one of two players to be named in the deal.

Littlefield said the second minor-league player will be sent to the Tigers "later rather than sooner" in the six-month window the teams have to complete the transaction.

"When you try to acquire a team MVP and major-league hitter, you're going to have to give up something," Littlefield said. "We think a lot of Novoa, but he did pitch at Williamsport for most of the year."

Novoa excelled in 12 starts at the short-season club, going 8-3 with a 3.65 ERA, 56 strikeouts and only eight walks in 66 ¹ / ₂ innings. In 10 starts at Class A Hickory, he didn't have as much success, going 1-5 with a 5.48 ERA. Novoa's prospect status, however, was jeopardized when he was one of many Latin American players caught in the visa crackdown last winter. The Pirates learned that Novoa's correct age is 23, not 21 as listed in their media guide.

Still, the Pirates were reluctant to give up Novoa, who throws between 96-98 mph and reminds Graham of closers Jose Mesa and Armando Benitez. "He has a tremendous arm," Graham said. "He put up good numbers and they weren't even indicative of his ability because he was working on a changeup and breaking pitch during the season."

BRANSON TO COACH WILLIAMSPORT

The Pirates hired Jeff Branson to coach Williamsport, the organization's minor league affiliate in the New York-Penn League.

Branson, 35, spent last season with Las Vegas, the Dodgers' Class AAA club, hitting .245 (57 for 233) with three home runs and 26 RBI in 88 games.