Facing a midnight deadline last night to set their 40-man roster, the Pirates announced yesterday that they waived starter-reliever Jeff Karstens and officially added hard-throwing reliever Ramon Aguero, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez plus starters Brad Lincoln and Bryan Morris to that roster, thus protecting those minor leaguers from being exposed for other teams to choose in the Rule 5 draft Dec. 10.

In announcing the shuffling, the Pirates designated for assignment Karstens, catcher Robinzon Diaz and newly acquired reliever Justin Thomas, leaving them available for other teams to sign. Thomas was claimed off waivers from Seattle three weeks ago.

The move with Karstens, who went 4-6 with a 5.42 ERA last season after being picked up in the Xavier Nady-Damaso Marte trade in July 2008 with the New York Yankees, was a bit of a surprise -- though he, like Diaz, was out of minor league options.

Karstens' departure allowed the Pirates to claim right-handed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from Seattle. Jakubauskas, 30, was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 35 games last season, eight of them starts. He and the four minor leaguers brought the Pirates to a full, 40-man contingent, meaning they would have to create space to add a minor leaguer in the Rule 5 draft or a free-agent signee.

By designating them, the Pirates have 10 days to waive, trade or release Diaz and Thomas.

Injured reliever Jose Ascanio and recovered reliever Evan Meek, a former Rule 5 selection, were reinstated to the roster from the disabled list as expected.

The only addition that would be considered mildly shocking was Aguero, signed four years ago as a free agent from the Dominican Republic. Aguero pitched in three levels last season, with Class A West Virginia, advanced Class A Lynchburg and Class AA Altoona, and compiled four saves, a 2-4 record, a 3.86 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 84 innings.

Morris, acquired from Los Angeles as a key cog in the three-team trade sending Jason Bay to Boston and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, was suspended for two weeks this summer for berating an umpire and continues to battle injuries. He went 4-9 with a 5.57 ERA in 15 starts with Lynchburg.

Hernandez, who came from Atlanta in the Nate McLouth trade in June, hit .262 with three homers and 31 RBIs with Altoona.

Lincoln went 7-9 with a 3.37 ERA combined in Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis last season.

Among those prospects left exposed for the Rule 5 draft were second basemen Shelby Ford and Pitt's Jim Negrych.

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