Ahead of this year’s deadline to add Rule 5-eligible players to the 40-man roster, protecting them from potential selection, Washington’s Nationals added just pitchers the club thought they might lose in the draft.
“Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft,” as noted on MLB.com, and, any, “… players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.