Morgan cracks Pirates' 40-man

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their 40-man roster late on Monday night, just prior to the midnight ET deadline for rosters to be submitted.

Three prospects were added to the Bucs' 40-man roster for the first time: outfielder Nyjer Morgan, left-handed pitcher David Davidson and right-handed pitcher Romulo Sanchez. To make room for the additions, the Pirates released catcher Carlos Maldonado.

Morgan, 26, was selected by Pittsburgh in the 33rd round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. The left-handed hitting speedster split the 2006 season between Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona, where he combined to hit .304 with 13 doubles, eight triples, one home run and 32 RBIs. Morgan was successful in 59 of 81 stolen base attempts and scored 82 runs in 117 games.

Morgan likely aided his case for inclusion on the 40-man roster by batting .298 with 20 steals in 30 games this fall with Honolulu of Hawaii Winter Baseball.

Davidson, 22, made 42 combined relief appearances in 2006 with Altoona, Lynchburg and Class A Hickory. A 10th-round pick in 2002, Davidson went 3-2 last season with a 2.01 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched while limiting opposing hitters to a .193 batting average. The southpaw also was 2-2 with a 5.17 ERA in nine appearances with Grand Canyon in the Arizona Fall League.

Sanchez, 22, was signed by the Pirates as a Minor League free agent in May 2004 after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers following two seasons with their Dominican League team. Like Davidson, Sanchez spent time with Hickory, Lynchburg and Altoona in 2006, compiling a 0-3 record and a 5.86 ERA in 27 appearances, including three starts at Hickory. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is participating in winter ball in his native Venezuela.

Due to changes in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Pirates did not have to protect higher profile prospects such as infielder Brian Bixler and pitchers Jesse Chavez and Wardell Starling. As per the new rules, players drafted out of college can now play for four professional seasons, rather than three, before they are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players drafted out of high school must now be protected after five professional seasons, rather than four.

Maldonado, who will turn 28 next January, spent most of the 2006 season at Triple-A Indianapolis. He batted .283 with six home run and 47 RBIs with the Indians and was named as the team's Most Valuable Player. In eight games with the Pirates in September, Maldonado went 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts.

Unlike some past seasons, when the Pirates left openings on their 40-man roster in preparation for potential Hot Stove trades and free agent signings, the team submitted a full 40-man roster on Monday night. The group includes 22 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and seven outfielders.