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.