White Sox make minor-league trade, pass in Rule 5 draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The White Sox and Texas Rangers exchanged minor league pitchers Thursday, the Sox acquiring 6-6, 180-pound left-hander Will Lamb in exchange for right-hander Myles Jaye as the Winter Meetings drew to a close.

Lamb, a 2011 second round pick, split time as a reliever between the AA and AAA levels. He pitched to a 3.12 ERA at AA and 5.52 mark at AAA. The Sox view him as potential bullpen specialist to get lefthanders out. He was not placed on the 40-man roster.

Jaye, 23, came to the Sox along with right-hander Daniel Webb from the Blue Jays in 2012 in a trade for righty Jason Frasor. Jaye went 12-9 with a 3.29 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 147 2/3 innings at AA Birmingham.

The Sox passed on making a selection in the Rule 5 draft Thursday morning. In the minor league phase, they selected right-hander Manny Martinez from the Phillies. The Sox lost right-hander Blake Smith to the Padres in the major league phase of the draft.

The Rule 5 Draft was the last order of business at the Winter Meetings, where the Sox acquired third baseman Brett Lawrie from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for two minor league pitchers.

“I feel overall it has been productive, not simply because we were able to address one of our needs, but because we made some progress on other fronts,” general manager Rick Hahn said Thursday morning before heading home. “Obviously nothing is completed until you get it signed, sealed and delivered, but at this point we are pleased with the dialog on other fronts, in addition to the deal we were able to close.”