Sunday, November 26, 2023

Decision Month Coming Up - Volume 1 - The Rule 5 Draft

 Here are some important dates remaining this off-season and what I think they mean to the Guardians.

Rule 5 Draft - December 6th

Impact on the Guardians:

  • Players who might be lost - Major League Portion (on Columbus reserve list)
    • Dayan Frias (50% chance of being drafted)
    • Nic Mikolajchak (50%)
    • Daniel Schneeman (40%)
    • Ethan Hankins (40%)
    • Tanner Burns (40%)
    • Bryan Lavastida (40%)
    • Wuilfredo Antunez (40%)
    • Randy Labout (30%)
    • Micah Pries (30%)
    • Aaron Bracho (30%)
    • Bradley Hanner (30%)
    • Andrew Misiaszek (30%)
    • Allan Hernandez (30%)
    • Jerson Ramirez (30%)
    • Lenny Torres Jr. (30%)
    • Juan Benjamin (30%)
    • Esteban Gonzalez (20%)
    • Rey Delgado (20%)
    • Josh Wolf (20%)
    • Micael Ramirez (20%)
    • Alexfri Planez (20%)
    • Maick Collado (20%)
    • All others on ML reserve list (<20%)
  • Players who might be lost - Minor League Portion (on minor league reserve list)
    • Trey Benton (50%)
    •  Nic Enright (50%)
    •  Eric Sabrowski (50%)
    • Elvis Jerez (50%)
    • Thomas Ponticelli (50%)
    • Mason Hickman (50%)
    • Adam Scott (50%)
    • Christian Cairo (50%)
    • Yordys Valdez (50%)
    • Gabriel Rodriguez (50%)
    • Justin Lewis (25%)
    • All others on AAA reserve list (<25%)
  • Players they may take in the ML Rule 5 draft (if we remove 1 or more players from the 40)
    • Ian Bedell, St. Louis, RH SP
    • Chih-Jung Liu, Boston, RH RP
    • Tyler Owens, Atlanta, RH RP
    • Angel Bastardo, Boston, RH SP
    • Justin Jarvis, Mets, RH SP
    • Cole Wilcox, Tampa Bay RH RP
    • C.J. Van Eyck, Toronto, RH SP 
    • Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, Texas, RH RP
    • Taylor Dollard, RH SP (injured)
SUMMARY 

I think that this season we will start to see, especially in the minor league Rule 5 draft, the Guardians start to lose some of their minor league depth.  In an earth-shattering  prediction (LOL) I think the Guardians will lose more players in the ML phase than they pick up.  This, of course, is pretty obvious when their 40-man is full which hindered them from taking guys who might be vulnerable this year.  If the Guardians do pick up someone in the ML portion of the Rule 5, I see them going for a starting pitcher as this is the area where they are the weakest, depth-wise.  You can never count them out from taking a guy (like they did with Travor Stephan) who has present reliever stuff but with a starter's background.  The list of pitchers above are some whom I think the Guardians might take.  As they are picking 9th they are likely to have to a good pitcher to pick from.  

As far as who the Guardians might lose, you never know.  I would have never suspected they would have lost future middle relievers Kelly and Enright last year so any of the guys on the list above are possibilities to be drafted.  I do think you will see some surprising Guards prospects taken in the minor league portion as, frankly, they have too many prospects to protect on the Columbus reserve list.  

Some teams value future potential and they might be inclined to draft someone like Frias or Hankins.  Other teams value current ability and they might be inclined to draft Lavastida or Schneeman.  Some may value injured guys who they might be able to stash on their 60-man to begin the season so they may favor Mikolajchak and Misiaszek.

Frankly, unlike in 2021 when we protected a bunch of guys and I think Oscar Gonzalez was a lock to be drafted, I see a lot of guys who COULD be drafted this year but none look as much like a sure thing as Gonzalez was.  I think the M boys have a great chance of being drafted along with Frias, Lavastida and Schneeman.  I see Hankins making it through because, frankly, there are just too many pitchers further along them him available in this draft.

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