Do Pirates have options with options?

There are six Pirates on the 40-man roster who are out of options and have less than five years experience.

They are pitchers Phil Dumatrait, Sean Burnett, Craig Hansen and Tyler Yates; infielder Andy LaRoche and outfielder Brandon Moss.

Being out of options means that if any of these players do not make the 25-man roster out of spring training, the Pirates must risk losing the player on waivers before sending them to the minors.

As the Pirates stand now heading into spring training in less than two weeks, Burnett, Hansen and Tyler Yates should be locks for the bullpen, LaRoche is a lock at third base and Moss (if healthy) is a lock to earn an outfield spot.

Dumatrait is an interesting case. He is in a group of at least four pitchers battling for the last two rotation spots, assuming that Paul Maholm, Ian Snell and Zach Duke are locks for spots. If Tom Gorzelanny returns to 2007 form, and he appears in great shape, then he will also likely have one of the five spots.

That leaves Dumatrait, Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens fighting for the fifth spot with perhaps another name or two thrown into the mix. Add to that Dumatrait's health problems and he already appears to be an underdog for the last spot.

I know the organization was very happy with what Dumatrait gave them last season before he got hurt. For a time he and Maholm were the Pirates most consistent starters. If his injury persists, that would scare off any other team willing to take a chance and would likely keep Dumatrait in the system.

He could go for a spot in the bullpen as a long reliever, but he would have to be fully healthy to to accomplish that. His case will be one to watch as the spring wears on. He better be perfectly healthy if the Pirates are to give him a roster spot. If not, they would be better to take their chances putting him on waivers for the likelihood that he clears and he can build himself back up in Class AAA.