O's Kent Qualls on the players added in minor league phase of Rule 5 draft

NASHVILLE - The Orioles added three players to their organization in today's Rule 5 draft, the final event of the Winter Meetings. They selected outfielder Joey Rickard from Tampa Bay in the major league phase. He must stay on the roster all year or be offered back to the Rays.

The O's added two pitchers in the Triple-A phase of the draft. These players are not on the big league roster and are minor league players. They can be assigned to any affiliate for the 2016 season.

First, the club selected right-hander Cory Jones, 24, from the St. Louis organization. He was drafted in round five by the Cardinals in 2012. Jones is 9-4 with a 3.81 ERA in 21 starts over three seasons and the O's will use him as a starter in the minors.

They then selected 25-year-old left-hander Chipper Smith from the Marlins. In high Single-A and Double-A last year, he went 5-7 with an ERA of 4.39 in 108 2/3 innings and 26 games (20 starts). Smith was drafted in round 38 by Miami in 2012. He is 20-17 with a 3.50 ERA in 102 career minor league games (44 starts) over four seasons.

Orioles director of minor league operations Kent Qualls provided more information on both pitchers.

Qualls on Jones: "He's coming off of Tommy John surgery and he missed all of 2015. But he is a former fifth-round draft pick and is 6-foot-5, a big projectable guy. We think he has a lot of upside. Adding starting pitching depth is important to the organization.

"He had the surgery in July of 2014, so he is well into it. We feel that he is going to be fine for this coming year. We'll make sure we take good care of him with our pitching people. We see a lot of upside with being able to draft a former fifth-round pick and add him to our system."

Qualls on Smith: "He pitched in High-A and Double-A last year. He had four good seasons with the Marlins. Has excellent control. He knows how to add and subtract and he works fast. He's been a durable starter for them and throws a fastball, curve and changeup.

"We would have both of these pitchers under control for three more years under this original contract, so they still have some time to develop. We are really happy to get two starting pitchers. They are hard to sign as free agents and to build some depth with starters was one of the things we were targeting."

The Orioles lost three players in the minor league phase to other teams. The Chicago Cubs selected catcher David Freitas, the player to be named later in the Jim Johnson trade to Oakland. Tampa Bay selected left-handed pitcher Adam Kolarek, a product of Catonsville High School who played at the University of Maryland. Detroit selected right-handed pitcher Santiago Garrido.

Kolarek and Garrido had just been signed to the minor league deals by the Orioles this offseason.

"Clubs must like our free agent signings, I guess," Qualls said of the Orioles losing Kolarek and Garrido.