A's snare Goleski from Devil Rays

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Athletics were near the bottom of the lineup during Thursday morning's Rule 5 Draft, but they wound up with the first player selected in the Major League phase of the selection process.

Moments after the annual draft ended, the A's acquired outfielder Ryan Goleski from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for left-handed reliever Jay Marshall and cash considerations. Goleski had been selected by the Rays off the roster of the Buffalo Bisons, the Cleveland Indians' Triple-A club. Marshall had been selected by the A's from the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the ML phase.

"Our scouts have liked him from as far back as college," Athletics assistant general manager David Forst said of Goleski. "It's unlikely that Jay Payton will be coming back, so [Goleski] could make the club as the fourth or fifth outfielder. He's a young guy with power."

Goleski, 24, split the 2006 season between Class A Advanced Kinston and Triple-A Akron, finishing the season with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs.

The Athletics also added two pitchers to their inventory during Thursday's draft, which ended the Winter Meetings. Oakland nabbed right-hander Andy Shipman from the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the Triple-A phase and selected right-hander Josh Allison from the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round.

The A's lost one player -- right-hander Jared Burton, who pitched for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats last season. He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds.

"He pitched well in the Arizona Fall League," Forst said, "so we knew there was a chance someone might have seen him there. It's a good opportunity for him."

Opportunity also is knocking for Marshall, a sidearm specialist.

"He had fantastic numbers in the Carolina League and fantastic numbers against left-handed batters," Forst said. "We thought it was a good opportunity for us to get a guy who might be a solid specialist lefty down the road."

Marshall had a 5-1 record and 1.02 ERA for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem last season. He struck out 44 batters and walked just eight in 58 appearances, covering 62 innings.