LAS VEGAS -- The Toronto Blue Jays are leaving Las Vegas with Elvis.
Right-hander Elvis Luciano was selected by the Blue Jays from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday with the ninth pick of the winter meeting draft of unprotected players.
An 18-year-old Dominican, Luciano signed with Arizona in October 2016 for an $85,000 bonus. He was traded with left-hander Gabe Speier to Kansas City last June for left fielder Jon Jay. Luciano was 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 12 starts and one relief appearance this year for a pair of rookie-level teams. He struck out 70 and walked 23 in 67 innings.
Luciano was among 14 players picked in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. The cost of each player selected is $100,000, and a player must remain in the major leagues for all of next season or be offered back to his former team for $50,000.
Toronto also lost two pitchers in the Rule 5 draft: right-hander Jordan Romano (drafted by the White Sox, then traded to Texas), and left-hander Travis Bergen to San Francisco.
The Royals also picked up right-hander Sam McWilliams from Tampa Bay and right-hander Chris Ellis from Texas via a trade to St. Louis for cash.