Angels save 3 prospects from Rule 5 Draft

The Los Angeles Angels added outfielder Travis Witherspoon and relievers Ryan Brasier and Brandon Sisk to the 40-man roster to protect the players from the Rule-5 Draft, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reported on Tuesday.

The Rule 5 Draft is set to take place on Dec. 6 during the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

Witherspoon is rated as the seventh-best prospect in the Angels' farm system and just finished up with the Arizona Fall League where he hit .268/.350/.418. Sisk was acquired earlier this month from the Royals in the trade for Ervin Santana. Sisk posted a 2.54 ERA in Triple-A Omaha last year. Brasier had a 4.37 ERA and 13 saves for Triple-A Salt Lake.

Halo's Heaven notes that there might be space on the 25-man roster for the two pitchers if either of them can be consistent enough, and also details what the Angels' pitching staff looks like at the moment.

Gonzalez also has a nice rundown of some of the Angels' more prominent prospects who can be snatched up by other teams during the draft. If a team signs a player during the Rule 5 Draft, he costs the new team $50,000 and must remain on the active roster the entire season — or be offered back to his original club for $25,000.