The Toronto Blue Jays added right-handed relievers Blake McFarland and Brady Dragmire to their 40-man roster in advance of Friday’s deadline for protecting players from next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
McFarland spent the 2015 season in the upper minors of the Blue Jays’ system, posting a 2.03 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 10 walks in 57.2 innings for Toronto’s double-A and triple-A affiliates. The 27-year-old initially signed with the Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.
Blue Jays Prospect Report: Dragmire’s slider impresses in AFL
Dragmire, a 17th round pick in the 2011 draft, spent the 2015 season with Class A Dunedin. The 22-year-old posted a 5.26 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 20 walks, allowing 80 hits but just one home run in 63.1 innings. He finished the season strong and represented the Blue Jays at the Arizona Fall League, where he struck out seven batters in 7.0 innings.
The Rule 5 Draft takes place Dec. 10 on the final day of MLB’s Winter Meetings. Players are eligible if they were drafted out of high school in 2011 or out of college in 2012.
Each Rule 5 draft pick costs $50,000 and must remain on the active 25-man roster for the entirety of the following season, or be offered back to their former organization for $25,000.
The Blue Jays now have 35 players on their 40-man roster.
