Nine Players Lost in Rule 5 Draft

Opposing teams selected nine Dodger minor league players in the Rule 5 draft on Monday, including three of the first seven picks. No other team had more than five players selected.

“Now people are seeing the results of our strong drafts and player development the last few years,” scouting director Logan White said.

The Dodgers added two pitchers, selecting right-hander D.J. Houlton from the Houston Astros with the 10th pick in the draft and signing minor league free-agent left-hander Kelly Wunsch.

Houlton, 25, was 12-5 with a 2.94 earned-run average in double-A last season, striking out 159 and walking 47 in 159 innings. He must remain on the Dodger major league roster all next season or the Astros can reclaim him for $25,000.

“He’s a guy who might be a good fit,” Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta said. “He’s a good strike-thrower, and our scouts say he has an above-average curveball. He could potentially fill a bullpen spot.”

Wunsch, 32, is a former Milwaukee Brewer first-round pick with a sidearm motion who has had several brief stints with the Chicago White Sox.

At least one of the top two pitchers the Dodgers lost in the Rule 5 draft is likely to return because they are property of the Colorado Rockies, who would be hard-pressed to keep both on their roster. Right-hander Marcos Carvajal, 20, was the fourth overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers, and left-hander Matt Merricks, 22, went next to the Rockies, who then acquired Carvajal in a trade.

Outfielder Shane Victorino, who batted .328 with 16 home runs in double-A and .235 in triple-A last season, was the third Dodger taken in the major league phase of the draft.

He went to the Philadelphia Phillies with the seventh pick.

The Dodgers lost four players in the triple-A phase of the draft -- left-handed pitcher Arturo Lopez, infielder Brennan King, outfielder Alejandro De Aza and right-handed pitcher Brett Wayne, a converted shortstop.

In the double-A phase, the Dodgers lost catcher Jared Price and right-handed pitcher Steve Langone.

“We have so many good young players that next year it’s going to be even harder to protect them from the draft,” said Terry Collins, Dodger director of player development.

*

The Dodgers made the first splash of the winter meetings by signing free-agent infielder Jeff Kent, then appeared to tread water for four days.

Appearances can deceive.

DePodesta said the Dodgers made significant progress on several fronts, including their efforts to re-sign third baseman Adrian Beltre and add a front-line starting pitcher.

An Oakland Athletic front-office official said Monday that the Dodgers remain in the running to acquire right-hander Tim Hudson. However, DePodesta is pessimistic, saying another team probably will offer more. Atlanta Brave General Manager John Schuerholz met with A’s General Manager Billy Beane in the early afternoon, and the Baltimore Orioles continued to pursue Hudson by cellphone while officials drove to the airport.

After losing out on Carl Pavano and Pedro Martinez, the Boston Red Sox have joined the Dodgers, Angels, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians in pursuing free agent right-hander Matt Clement.

The Dodgers also maintain interest in re-signing left-hander Odalis Perez, whose other suitors include the New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals.

Kim Ng, the Dodger assistant general manager, met with the agent for pitcher Wilson Alvarez and came away optimistic that the left-hander will return to the Dodgers. Alvarez can file for arbitration by Sunday or negotiate a new deal.

Free-agent infielder Jose Hernandez, who batted .289 with 13 home runs for the Dodgers in a reserve role last season, signed a one-year contract with the Indians for $1.8 million.