Angels take another hit Thursday ... in the Rule 5 draft
As if losing their top free-agent target, Carl Crawford, to a seven-year, $142-million contract to the Boston Red Sox late Wednesday night wasn't enough for the Angels, the team also lost four minor league players in Thursday morning's Rule 5 draft.
The Chicago Cubs took right-handed reliever Mason Tobin with the eighth pick, and the New York Yankees took left-handed reliever Robert Fish with the 28th pick in the major league phase of the draft. Tobin, who was one of the team's top pitching prospects a few years ago, was subsequently traded to the Texas Rangers for cash.
The Toronto Blue Jays took utility player Ivan Contreras off the Angels' triple-A Salt Lake roster, and the Pittsburgh Pirates took catcher Travis Scott off the team's double-A Arkansas roster.
The Angels took one player in the draft, selecting right-handed reliever Daniel Sattler off the Oakland Athletics' double-A roster.
On the plus side, the Angels netted $112,000 in the transactions. The fee teams must pay for selecting players in the major league phase of the draft is $50,000, and the fee for selecting players in the triple-A and double-A phases is $12,000.
-- Mike DiGiovanna in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
