News
Friars add three to 40-man roster
Italiano, Huffman, Garrison safe from Rule 5 Draft
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
11/20/09 6:54 PM EST
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres selected three players to their 40-man roster Friday, including one player who might not pitch until after the All-Star break in 2010.The Padres placed on the 40-man roster right-handed pitcher Craig Italiano, outfielder Chad Huffman and left-handed pitcher Steve Garrison.
The Padres and every other Major League team had until 8:59 p.m. PT on Friday to set their 40-man roster, which protects those players from being picked in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10, the last day of the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis.
The Padres now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
The Padres protected Garrison, 23, considered the prized arm of the Scott Linebrink deal to Milwaukee in 2007, even though he suffered a serious injury to his right knee on Nov. 14.
Garrison, who was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six Arizona Fall League starts, is scheduled to have surgery in two weeks. If all goes well, he could start a throwing program sometime in June.
Garrison was a combined 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA between three Minor League stops a year ago and had been pitching well in the Arizona Fall League before the injury, according to Padres team officials.
Italiano, 23, had a 1.44 ERA in 19 relief appearances with Class A Lake Elsinore after being obtained July 5 from the A's in the Scott Hairston deal. Italiano had 44 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings and opponents hit .209 against him.
Huffman, 24, hit .269 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs in his first full season at the Triple-A level with Portland last season. Huffman was a second-round Draft pick in 2006 from Texas Christian University. He also had 30 doubles with Portland.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
