Quick Thoughts About The 2025 ML Portion of the Rule 5 Draft

 Well, the 2025 Rule 5 drafts (ML and MiLB portions) are in the books and here are my thoughts:

Guardians

Once again the Guardians FO put on a masterclass as to how to conserve their prospect assets.

• ZERO players selected in the ML portion
• ZERO players selected in the minor league portion (almost unheard of!!!)

[NOTE: I think that is the first time in at least 10 years where they haven't lost ANYONE. More on that later tonight when I get a chance to research it.]

Major League Portion

• Definitions (my, arbitrary, decisions)
• Small market/weak teams: TB, CLE, DET, KC, MIN, CWS, ATH, LAA, MIA, WSH, CIN, COL, STL, PIT, 
• Large market/strong teams: TOR, NYYH, BOS, SEA, HOU, TEX, PHI, NYM, ATL, MIL, CHC, LAD, SD, SF, ARZ
• 13 players were selected 
• Teams losing players
• Small market/weak teams: Tigers, Marlins (2), Athletics, Reds, Rays, Cardinals
• Large market/strong teams: Red Sox, Phillies, Orioles, Giants (2)
• Teams drafting players or trading for those drafted:
• Small market/weak teams: Rockies, White Sox (2), Nationals, Athletics, Cardinals, Guardians
• Large market/strong teams: Giants, Rangers, Red Sox, Astros, Blue Gays, Yankees, Phillies
• Competitive Balance Implications (Including trades after the draft)
• 4 of the 13 players selected went from a small market/weak team to another small market/weak team
• 2 went from a large market/strong team to a small market/weak team
• 7 went from a small market/weak team to a large market/strong tea

• More players (7) were lost from small market/weak teams than from large market/strong teams
• Only 2 players drafted (after considering trades), went from a large market team to a small market/weak team
• The Yankees selected a player for the first time in at least 10 years and had no players drafted
• Both WS teams in 2025 did not lose a player
• One WS team (TOR) actually drafted a player 
• 7 (including trades) went from a small market/weak team to a large market/strong team.

SUMMARY

The Rule 5 draft was originally set up to redistribute talent and to keep the richer franchises from hoarding prospects.  In 2025 this effort failed.  In fact, weaker teams actually had more players drafted than they drafted.

More analysis to follow later tonight!