White Sox Lose RHP Blake Smith In Rule 5 Draft

(CBS) The Padres snagged right-hander Blake Smith from the White Sox in the first round of Thursday's Rule 5 Draft that marked the end of the Winter Meetings in Nashville.

Smith, 28, compiled a 2.89 ERA in 53 innings across three minor league levels in 2015. He was a second-round pick of Chicago in the 2009 amateur draft.

The White Sox passed on their own pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. In the Triple-A phase, the White Sox selected right-hander Manaure Martinez from the Phillies.

In the major league phase, the Cubs had no one selected from their organization. They also passed on their pick, and their 40-man roster continues to sit at 39 players.

The Cubs nabbed catcher David Freitas from the Orioles, outfielder Jesus Loya from the Red Sox and outfielder Mike O'Neill from the Cardinals in the Triple-A phase. The Cubs also had four low-profile prospects selected by other teams in the Triple-A phase.

Teams that take a player in the Rule 5 Draft must keep them on their 25-man roster for the entirety of the following season or put them on waivers. Such draftees can't be sent to the minors, for the purpose of the Rule 5 Draft is to keep the original teams from stockpiling too much young talent in the minor leagues that other teams would use in the majors.

Players on a team's 40-man roster are protected from the Rule 5 Draft.