Rangers get righty Brigham back from Cubs

Pitcher Jake Brigham, who was part of a July 31 trade to the Cubs, was reacquired Tuesday by the Rangers in exchange for fellow right-hander Barret Loux as Texas made several moves on its 40-man roster.

Brigham, 24, went 5-5 with a 4.28 ERA at Double-A Frisco before being dealt to the Cubs in a Trade Deadline deal for catcher Geovany Soto. But Brigham was 0-2 in two starts for Double-A Tennessee in the Cubs organization before going on the disabled list with a right elbow strain.

Brigham's elbow issue did not require surgery. Due to the injury, the two teams reworked the deal, with Loux now going to the Cubs, as well as a player to be named. Loux, 23, was 14-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 25 starts for Frisco in his second professional season after signing with Texas as a free agent following some arm issues of his own.

Brigham was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster, as were infielder Leury Garcia and left-handed reliever Joe Ortiz, whose contracts were both purchased from their Minor League clubs. Garcia, 22, hit .292 with 31 stolen bases in 100 games for Frisco last season. Ortiz, 22, combined to go 2-3 with six saves and a 2.15 ERA over 51 appearances with Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock.

The moves leave the Rangers with 38 players on their 40-man roster. Players on the 40-man roster by Tuesday night's deadline are protected from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, which will be conducted Dec. 6 at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

Major League Baseball's deadline to protect players is Tuesday at 10:59 p.m. CT. Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five years or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years old are to be protected within four years.

Clubs pay $50,000 to select a player in the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn't stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $25,000.

The Rangers also announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Johan Yan to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. The 24-year-old was 1-1 with 11 saves and a 3.98 ERA in 45 relief appearances for Frisco and Round Rock last year. He originally signed with Texas as an infielder in 2005 and didn't begin pitching until '09.

This will be Yan's first invite to a Major League camp. Players on Minor League deals are not on the 40-man roster.