Deadline day: 40-man roster

The A’s currently have 35 players on their 40-man roster, which must be set tonight in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings, to be held Dec. 6-9. The Draft, conducted in reverse order of finish from the previous season, allows teams to select players not on other teams’ 40-man rosters and add them to their own. The selected players must be kept on the team’s 25-man roster out of Spring Training or be offered back to the original team for half the selection price, or $25,000. Anyone signed when they were 19 or older who has spent three full seasons in the organization, as well as anyone signed at 18 or older who has spent four full seasons in the organization, is eligible for the Draft. Several teams choose not to participate in the Draft, but the A’s are often involved, as they were last year when they chose reliever Bobby Cassevah before returning him to the Angels. Recently acquired reliever Trystan Magnuson is expected to be added to Oakland’s 40-man roster so he won’t be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. Expect a couple other additions — including Michael Taylor — as well, but the A’s are likely to keep a spot or two open so as to leave the window open for December’s Draft.