The White Sox added three players to their 40-man roster Friday to protect them from this year’s Rule 5 draft.
The Sox purchased the contracts of outfielders Jacob May and Adam Engel and right-handed pitcher Brad Goldberg. They also outrighted right-hander Brandon Brennan to Triple-A Charlotte to bring the 40-man roster to 40.
Engel, 24, finished the season as the Sox’s No. 6 prospect, according to MLB.com. He hit .259 with 30 doubles, 12 triples, seven home runs, 131 strikeouts, 90 runs scored, 45 stolen bases and a .344 on-base percentage over 129 games at three levels last year, including 41 games at Triple-A Charlotte. His 45 stolen bases were tied for fifth in the minors this year.
May, 24, was MLB.com’s 12th-ranked prospect but played in just 83 games this year due to injury. He hit .266 with 19 doubles, 38 runs scored and 19 stolen bases with Charlotte.
Sox general manager Rick Hahn said last week at the GM meetings that the pair of outfielders had the potential to contribute in center field at the big-league level should the Sox need help there as top outfield prospect Charlie Tilson is recovering from left hamstring surgery.
“Adam Engel and Jacob May are guys who have experience at Triple A and could conceivably play big-league center field at this point,” Hahn said. “They certainly can defensively. It’s more about where their bats are.”
In his fourth year in the system, Goldberg, 26, posted a 2.70 ERA, 10 saves in 12 opportunities, 26 walks, 51 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in 47 relief appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte. He was named an International League midseason All-Star.
Players who were signed at 19 or older, have played four seasons in the minors and are not on a team’s 40-man roster are eligible to be selected by another team in the Rule 5 draft. However, the new team must keep them on their 25-man roster the entire season or return them to the original team. For players signed at 18, the cutoff is five seasons in the minors.
The Rule 5 draft will take place during baseball’s winter meetings the first full week in December.