The Astros must decide this week what prospects, if any, they will protect from the Rule 5 draft.

"We'd like to protect everybody so there's not a chance of losing any of our prospects," Jeff Luhnow said. "We have a limited number of spots, and we have to think carefully about who we want to protect and why."

Among the players who will need to be added to the roster is top pitching prospect Jarred Cosart. Fellow pitchers Brett Obertholtzer, Josh Zeid, Chia-Jen Lo, Kyle Weiland, Jose Cisnero, Jason Stoffel and Ross Seaton will also need to be protected or risk being lost.

For the first time since 1993, the Red Sox have a top 10 pick in the First-Year Player Draft.

After finishing the 2012 season with 69 wins, they have the seventh overall pick in next June's draft.

Boston is adding to its scouting infrastructure, most notably by bringing back a well-regarded scout who left the organization a few years ago -- John Booher. They have also added several other scouts.