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Mariners protect Peterson, Fry, Vieira from Rule 5 Draft
- Updated: November 19, 2016
SEATTLE — Former first-round Draft pick D.J. Peterson, lefty reliever Paul Fry and flame-throwing Brazilian right-hander Thyago Vieira were added to the Mariners’ 40-man roster on Friday as the club moved to protect several of its top prospects from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
The three additions put the Mariners’ 40-man roster at 40, following a flurry of moves earlier in the day as Seattle acquired infielder/outfielders Taylor Motter and Richie Shaffer via trade with the Rays and left-hander James Pazos in a trade with the Yankees, lost reliever David Rollins on waivers to the Cubs, released outfielder Stefen Romero and designated reliever Tom Wilhelmsen for assignment.
Peterson, the 12th-overall pick in the 2013 Draft, was Seattle’s highest unprotected player as the club’s No. 8-rated prospect by MLBPipeline.com, so it’s not surprising the Mariners moved him onto the Major League roster rather than risk another team grabbing him in the Rule 5 Draft, which will be held on the final day of the Winter Meetings, Dec. 8, in Washington, D.C.
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The two pitchers were added because both are the types of players teams tend to target in the Rule 5 Draft with the idea they might be able to survive a full-season on a 25-man roster. Fry is a southpaw specialist and Vieira a youngster who was averaging 100-mph with his fastball in the just-concluded Arizona Fall League.
All MLB teams had until 5 p.m. PT on Friday to shield players from the Rule 5 Draft. Those eligible for the Rule 5 process include anyone not on the 40-man roster who …