CLEARWATER, Fla. — Five games, three in Florida and two in Montreal, remain before the Pirates must set an opening-day roster. In that time they must sort out a rotation spot and two bullpen spots while navigating five left-handers, a Rule 5 pick and four starters. They also have two bench spots open.
It sounds as if they have an idea on the rotation spot — “We have a pretty good feel for where we’d like to go,” general manager Neal Huntington said Sunday — but the bullpen decision could be intertwined with that of the fifth starter.