NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Relief pitcher Tim Lahey was the first selection in the winter meetings draft on Thursday, picked from Minnesota by the Tampa Bay Rays and then sold to the Chicago Cubs.
Lahey spent most of this season at Double-A New Britain of the Eastern League, going 8-4 with 13 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 50 games. The right-hander struck out 56 in 78 1-3 innings.
In an event known as the Rule 5 draft, 18 players were selected off Triple-A rosters at a cost of $50,000 each. Players chosen in the draft must stay on the active major league roster with their new club all season or be offered back to their old team for $25,000.
The Twins lost three players in the draft, including right-hander Robert Dickey and outfielder Garrett Guzman.
“It’s a great opportunity for him (Dickey) because he got a roster spot out of it that he didn’t have with us. He goes to their big league camp,” Twins general manager Bill Smith said. “We were a little disappointed because we were kind of excited to have him.”
Boston and Cleveland each lost two players.
Fourteen of the 18 players selected were pitchers.
Home Twins lose 3 prospects in winter meetings draft