Former Saugus Pitcher Salkeld Left Unprotected, Report Says

Former Saugus High pitcher Roger Salkeld has been left unprotected by the Seattle Mariners, meaning Salkeld can be selected by the Colorado Rockies or Florida Marlins in Tuesday’s major league expansion draft, according to a published report.

The Mariners did not include Salkeld, 21, among the 15 players each organization initially is allowed to protect during the expansion draft. Salkeld, the third overall pick in the 1989 amateur draft, once was considered the top pitching prospect in the organization, but he did not pitch in 1992 because of arm problems. In October, he underwent reconstructive surgery that also will keep him from pitching in 1993.

The lists of protected players were not made public by the league but were obtained by the Chicago Tribune.

Among other unprotected area players considered candidates for selection by the expansion teams are outfielder Damon Buford of Birmingham High and USC, who is in the Baltimore organization; former Rio Mesa pitcher Bobby Ayala of the Reds; former Grant pitcher Javier Delahoya of the Dodgers; and former Camarillo catcher Jeff Tackett of the Orioles.

Players drafted after 1989 who have not appeared in the major leagues, such as the Cardinals’ 1991 first-round pick, Dmitri Young of Rio Mesa High, and the Phillies’ 1990 first-round selection, Mike Lieberthal of Westlake High, are not subject to the expansion draft.