When a Rule 5 claim is designated for assignment, as Meek was yesterday morning, he must clear 48-hour waivers. If that happens in this case, the Pirates can offer Meek back to Tampa Bay for half the original claiming price of $50,000 or work out a trade to keep him.

The latter scenario sounded most likely yesterday. General manager Neal Huntington has had preliminary talks with the Rays aimed at a trade, perhaps one limited to a cash transaction, to keep Meek. The Pirates then could assign Meek to the minors and retain his major-league rights.

This could get interesting , or could just be one of those "future considerations" deals that we never really hear the conclusion of. The Biscuits apparently don't need him, signing Jason Cromer to a deal today.