Nationals add four to 40-man roster, release Mattheus; Pirates claim Florimon

The Nationals this afternoon selected the contracts of right-hander A.J. Cole, left-hander Matt Grace, infielder Wilmer Difo and outfielder Brian Goodwin. By adding these prospects to the 40-man roster, the Nationals protect them from the Rule 5 draft, which will be held Dec. 11 in San Diego at the Winter Meetings.

To make room for those four players, right-hander Ryan Mattheus was placed on outright assignment and elected free agency, while infielder Pedro Florimon was claimed off waivers by the Pirates. The team also announced the release of catcher Jhonatan Solano.

With the moves, the Nats' 40-man roster is full, meaning they can't make a selection in the Rule 5 draft without first dropping or trading a player.

Cole, a fourth-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, was 13-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, going 7-0 in 11 starts with the Chiefs. The 22-year-old was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the organization. Cole was one of four top prospects the Nationals dealt to the A's in December 2011 for lefty Gio Gonzalez, but was reacquired in January 2013 from the A's in the three-team trade that sent Michael Morse to Seattle.

Grace was 5-1 with three saves and a 1.17 ERA in 50 appearances for Harrisburg and Syracuse in 2014, and played in the Arizona Fall League with Mesa. He was promoted to Syracuse on June 16 and posted a 1.30 ERA while allowing a batting average against of .194 in 24 outings. The 25-year-old was an eighth-round selection in 2010 out of UCLA.

Difo set career-highs in average (.315), doubles (31), triples (seven), home runs (14), RBIs (90), walks (31) and runs (91) for low Single-A Hagerstown, and was named Most Valuable Player in the South Atlantic League. He ranked second in total bases (263) and stolen bases (49), and fourth in RBIs and runs. The 22-year-old was signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2010.

Goodwin was selected No. 24 overall in the supplemental round of the 2011 draft and batted .219 with 10 doubles, four triples, four homers, 32 RBIs, 50 walks and 31 runs in 81 games for Triple-A Syracuse. The 24-year-old has been primarily a center fielder, but can play all three outfield positions.

Mattheus was 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 145 relief appearances over parts of four seasons with the Nats. Florimon was claimed off waivers from the Twins on Sept. 18.