masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSAN DIEGO – The Orioles made their first transactions of the Winter Meetings today at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, selecting right-hander Logan Verrett with their pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft and acquiring right-hander Jason Garcia from the Astros following his selection with the fourth overall pick.

Garcia, who came from the Red Sox’s organization, was obtained for cash considerations.

The Orioles have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

The Orioles had the 28th…SAN DIEGO – The Orioles made their first transactions of the Winter Meetings today at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, selecting right-hander Logan Verrett with their pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft and acquiring right-hander Jason Garcia from the Astros following his selection with the fourth overall pick.

Garcia, who came from the Red Sox’s organization, was obtained for cash considerations.

Logan Verrett.jpgThe Orioles have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

The Orioles had the 28th selection, ahead of only the Nationals and Angels, but moved up based on teams passing or being ineligible due to a full 40-man roster.

There was a buzz earlier in the morning that the Orioles made arrangements to acquire another team’s selection, a player chosen within the first four picks, and that’s how it played out.

Garcia, 22, was 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA in nine games (three starts) with Single-A Greenville and 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in five games (four starts) with short-season Single-A Lowell. He’s 15-16 with a 4.69 ERA in 73 minor league appearances (51 starts) over five seasons.

Verrett, 24, was 11-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 28 starts with Triple-A Las Vegas. He’s 28-13 with a 3.89 ERA in 69 minor league starts over three seasons.

The Orioles maintained their streak of making a selection in the major league phase of the draft, beginning with Alfredo Simon and continuing with Randor Bierd, Lou Palmisano, Ben Snyder, Adrian Rosario, Ryan Flaherty, T.J. McFarland and Michael Almanzar.

The Orioles didn’t lose anyone in the major league phase of the draft.

Update: In the Triple-A phase, the Orioles selected outfielder Sean Halton from the Brewers organization.

Halton, 22, hit .293/.342/.435 with 29 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 63 RBIs in 122 games with Nashville. He’s a career .291/.350/.448 hitter in six minor league seasons.

Halton, who also plays first base, batted .238 with four home runs in 42 games with Milwaukee in 2013. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds.

The Orioles lost pitcher Alex Santana to the Dodgers and pitcher Michael O’Brien to Rays.