The Dodgers added two players to their 40-man roster today, protecting them from next month's Rule 5 draft. Catcher Hector Gimenez and relief pitcher Luis Vazquez were the two players added, bring the total number to 37 players on the Dodgers roster.
Gimenez is a 28-year old catcher who the Dodgers signed to a minor-league contract last week. He played two games for the 2006 Astros, going hitless in two at-bats. He spent the last two seasons in the Pirates organization, hitting .305/.384/.533 in Double A last season.
Vazquez, who turns 25 next April 3, was signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. The right-handed reliever was 3-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 37 games for Class A Great Lakes last season.
The Dodgers 40-man roster now has 37 players. So far this offseason, the Dodgers have re-signed Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda, and Jay Gibbons, and also added outfielder Jamie Hoffmann to the 40-man roster as well. Hoffmann was taken in last year's Rule 5 draft, but was returned to the Dodgers by the Yankees in spring training.
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