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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates made their 40-man roster decisions, protecting players from the incoming Rule 5 Draft.
The Pirates selected the contracts of outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez, infielder Jack Brannigan, left-handed pitcher Tyler Samaniego, and right-handed pitchers Wilber Dotel, Antwone Kelly and Brandan Bidois.
The Rule 5 Draft prevents teams from stockpiling young talent in their minor leagues and makes them available for teams to take during the Winter Meetings in December.
To make room on their roster, the Pirates designated for assignment outfielders Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon, along with pitchers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta. Infielder Cam Devanney was released so that he could pursue baseball overseas.
Valdez had a breakout campaign in 2025 across High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona, slashing .286/.376/.520 for an OPS of .896 in 123 games, 131 hits, 25 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs, 86 RBIs and 56 walks to 130 strikeouts.
He earned earned honors for his play, including South Atlantic League MVP for his time in Greensboro and the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year, given to the best minor league power hitter in the Pirates farm system.
Valdez also excelled in the Arizona Fall League, winning Offensive Player of the Year honors after slashing 368/.513/.842 for an OPS of 1.355 in 19 games with the Salt River Rafters, with 19 runs scored, 21 hits, three doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBIs and 19 walks to 12 strikeouts.
Brannigan didn't quite have the season he wanted as he didn't play with Altoona past June 13, missing the rest of the season with a torn labrum, that he underwent surgery.
He slashed .225/.329/.358 for an OPS of .687 in 59 games at Double-A in 2025, with 46 hits in 204 at-bats, eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 30 RBIs, 25 walks to 62 strikeouts and nine stolen bases.
Dotel posted a 7-9 record over 27 starts with Altoona, a 4.15 ERA over 125.2 innings pitched, 131 strikeouts to 43 walks, a .234 opposing batting average and a 1.23 WHIP, with a 9.38 K/9, 3.08 BB/9 and a 3.05 K/BB.
Baseball America projects great futures for both pitchers, ranking Kelly seventh and Dotel ninth in the Pirates farm system, while MLB Pipeline ranks Dotel 28th overall.
Bidois didn't give up a hit over 64 batters, which went over 18 innings and 11 relief appearances with Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis from July 29 to Sept. 14.
Kelly started off with Greensboro in 2025, with a 1-1 record in 14 starts, a 3.03 ERA over 59.1 innings pitched, 70 strikeouts to 17 walks, a .192 opposing batting average and a 0.90 WHIP.
Samaniego worked back from an elbow injury and made it to Altoona on June 24. He posted a 1-1 record in 20 relief appearances, a 3.08 ERA over 26.1 innings pitched, 30 walks to six strikeouts, a .189 opposing batting average and a 0.91 WHIP.