SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants added eight pitchers to their 40-man roster on Friday, protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft that will be held on the final day of the Winter Meetings next month in Nashville. Friday was the deadline to add and protect high school and international prospects signed in 2011 and college players signed in 2012.
Right-handers Clayton Blackburn, Kyle Crick, Ian Gardeck, Jake Smith and Chris Stratton got the call, along with lefties Ty Blach, Adalberto Mejia and Steven Okert.
Blackburn, 22, could make his MLB debut as early as next summer. The right-hander led the Pacific Coast League with a 2.