Reds pick up versatile Joe in Rule 5 Draft

LAS VEGAS -- The Reds selected utility player Connor Joe from the Dodgers' Triple-A roster in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, which marked the conclusion of the annual Winter Meetings.
Joe, 26, batted .299/.408/.527 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs combined last season with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He can play first base, second base, third base and the outfield.
"He's going to come in with a chance to compete for a job in Spring Training," Reds general manager Nick Krall said. "Our guys liked him. He made some improvements this year with his swing and approach. He had a really excellent year."
In the 2014 MLB Draft, Joe was a first-round selection (39th overall) by the Pirates.
Cincinnati's 40-man roster is now at 38 players.
Under the rules of this draft, the Reds will pay the Dodgers $100,000 by selecting Joe, who is added to their 25-man roster. He must remain on the club all season or be offered back to Los Angeles for $50,000 after he clears outright waivers. He can be sent outright back to the Minors if the Dodgers or another club does not take him.
In the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft, the Orioles selected pitcher Taylor Grover from Cincinnati. A right-hander, Grover pitched in independent baseball last season and was signed by the Reds in the offseason. The Braves took right-handed pitcher Jose Rafael De Paula from Double-A Chattanooga.