Minor League Rule 5 Draft

Work stoppages really make it hard to find anything to write about.  The one advantage that MLB has given us is that all things minor league will continue.   Thus, although there will not be a major league rule 5 draft tomorrow, the AAA phase wlll go on as scheduled.  Here is a quick reference guide to this draft:

• Teams can protect up to 38 players on their AAA roster that are not already on their major league 40-man roster  
• All other minor leaguers who are Rule 5 eligible in a team's minor league system can be drafted away from a team.   
• Drafted players are lost for good and, I think, at a cost of about $15,000.
• Very few major leaguers come out of the minor league portion.  These are normally just organizational players.  

So, the key to this draft is to use your 38 players wisely.  Looking at the Guardians minor leaguers who would be eligible for this draft, here is a list of guys I would protect:

1. Robert Broom

2. Justin Garza

3. Shane McCarthy

4. Sergio Morillo

5. Juan Mota

6. Aaron Pinto

7. Thomas Ponticelli

8. Jerson Ramirez

9. Joey Cantillo

10. Kirk McCarty

11. Adam Scott

12. Tanner Tully

13. Matt Turner

14. Gavin Collins

15. Jonathon Lopez

16. Sandy Leon

17. Andres Melendez

18. Micael Ramirez

19. Mike Rivera

20. Aaron Bracho

21. Jose Fermin

22. Marcos Gonzalez

23.Daniel Aguilar

24. Will Benson

25. Oscar Gonzalez

26. Quentin Holmes

27. Daniel Johnson

28. Alexfri Planez

29. Jonathon Rodriguez

That's 29 guys and doesn't begin to address my ignorance about the prospect status of the 48 remaining prospects eligible for the AAA rule 5 draft, many of whom are Latin minor leaguers in the lower minors.

So, tomorrow will be interesting.   I predict we will have more action in this draft than usual and it may focus more on guys near the top of the minors.

One last point: just like the major league portion of the Rule 5 the rosters are set before all information is in.   Sometimes guys show out right before the draft on their winter league team.   Maybe their organization didn't think much of the guy but then he puts himself on the radar with his wnter league perfromance.   Keep an eye on Daniel Aguilar who is tearing up the Columbian winter league and who the Indians may have overlooked when they put together their 38-man AAA protected list.   If he isn't on that list, there is a large chance he could be drafted tomorrow.