The Scoop
Meek Rule 5 Exception
By Jim Lachimia

Pirates GM Neal Huntington said recently that most players available via the Rule Five have what he termed "significant warts." Despite pitcher Evan Meek's early struggles this season, the GM does not believe that's the case with the hard-throwing right-hander. Rather, Huntington is of the opinion that Meek was available because of the talent Tampa Bay currently has in its organization. "We took him out of arguably the deepest farm system in baseball," he said. "If there was any organization that couldn't protect a legitimate big league prospect, it was probably Tampa Bay, with all the young arms they have."