D-backs add 5 to roster, designate Guerra

PHOENIX -- The D-backs made changes to their 40-man roster just ahead of Friday’s deadline to protect players in next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

The D-backs added right-handed pitchers J.B. Bukauskas, Luis Frias and Matt Peacock along with outfielder Stuart Fairchild and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.

Arizona also claimed right-hander Rogelio Armenteros from the Astros, and he was added to the 40-man roster.

In order to make room for the new additions, the D-backs designated right-handers Junior Guerra and Joel Payamps for assignment and outrighted infielder Domingo Leyba to Triple-A Reno.

Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons.

Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn't stay on the big league roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

For this year, that meant an international or high school Draft pick signed in 2016 -- assuming he was 18 or younger as of June 5 of that year -- had to be protected. A college player taken in the 2017 Draft was in the same position.

The biggest news among the departed players was Guerra, who was signed to a free-agent contract last winter. Guerra went 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA in 25 games for the D-backs in 2020, and the club declined his $3.5 million option for 2021. Because of his service time, Guerra was still under club control as an arbitration-eligible player.

The team likely would have kept him on the roster and either gone to arbitration with him or worked out a deal beforehand. However, when Armenteros was claimed, the D-backs could no longer fit Guerra. After designating him on Friday, by rule, the team cannot re-sign him until May 15.

Here’s a look at the players added:

RHP J.B. Bukauskas: Bukauskas was acquired from the Astros as part of the package for Zack Greinke at the 2019 Trade Deadline, and the 24-year-old spent this past season at the team’s alternate training site. He is ranked as the organization’s 10th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

OF Stuart Fairchild: Fairchild was acquired by the D-backs at this year’s Trade Deadline from the Reds as part of the Archie Bradley deal. The 24-year-old is ranked as the No. 13 prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline. After the trade, he joined the D-backs' alternate training site and also participated in the instructional league this fall.

RHP Luis Frias: Frias was signed as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 24, 2015. The 22-year-old is the No. 8-ranked prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, and he spent time this summer at the team’s alternate training site and in the instructional league this fall.

RHP Matt Peacock: Peacock has performed well in his three years in the system after being selected in the 23rd round of the 2017 Draft. He pitched in the instructional league this fall.

SS Geraldo Perdomo: Perdomo is viewed as the team’s shortstop of the future, and he spent 2020 at the alternate training site and the instructional league. The 21-year-old is ranked as the organization’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline.