Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Nicasio will be stretched out during spring training, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract in December, Nicasio will be stretched out for rotation depth and/or a long-relief role. He may also have some shot to make a run at a rotation spot, but such a scenario would likely involve at least one or two key injuries among the Pirates' likely starting pitchers.