Newly acquired Swanson put on 40-man roster
Part of Paxton deal, 25-year-old righty pitched in Triple-A last season
SEATTLE -- Erik Swanson, the right-handed pitcher acquired by the Mariners on Monday from the Yankees, was promoted to the club's 40-man roster Tuesday in order to protect him from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
The 25-year-old was part of a three-prospect package sent from the Yankees in exchange for lefty James Paxton. Justus Sheffield, the 22-year-old left-hander acquired in the same deal, is already on the 40-man roster. Outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams, the third prospect, has only been in pro ball for three seasons and won't be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for two more years.
Swanson split last season between Class A Staten Island, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees' system, going 8-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 24 games, including 22 starts.
With the addition of Swanson, Seattle's 40-man roster is now at 35 players. The club promoted outfielder Braden Bishop to the 40-man roster last week in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. No other players are expected to be promoted prior to Tuesday's deadline.
Bishop is Seattle's No. 6 ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, while Swanson has been installed at No. 9 after his acquisition. Other Top 30 prospects in the system who will be eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft are right-handed pitchers Art Warren (No. 17) and Rob Whalen (21), outfielders Ian Miller (23), Anthony Jimenez (26), Luis Liberato (27) and Ronald Rosario (29) and left-handed pitcher Anthony Misiewicz (30).
The Rule 5 Draft will be held Dec. 13, the final day of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Any player selected must be kept on that team's 25-man Major League roster for the entire 2019 season, or be offered back to his original club.
Greg Johns has covered the Mariners since 1997, and for MLB.com since 2011. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB.