Phillies finalize 40-man roster Rule 5 protections

Just ahead of Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 protection deadline, the Phillies have added the contracts of three minor leaguers to their 40-man roster.

That puts 38 players on the 40-man roster, however, the team designated Justin Bour for assignment last week. He is expected to clear waivers and, once he does, will be released and become a free agent, leaving 37 players on the 40-man.

Minor league players who were signed when they were 19 or older and have played in professional baseball for four years or more are eligible for the draft. Players who were signed when they were 18 are eligible once they’ve played five years. Those players must be placed on the 40-man roster in order to be…