Rule 5 Draft

Several folks have asked for this thread, so here ‘tis.

If a player is not on his team’s 40-man roster, and

• If 18 years old or younger on the June 5 preceding the player’s original signing date, the player is subject to selection at the fifth Rule 5 Draft following the player’s original contract;
• If 19 years old or older on the June 5 preceding the player’s original signing date, the player is subject to selection at the fourth Rule 5 Draft following the player’s original contract;

Generally, HS players signed in 2004 and college players signed in 2005 are eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time this year. Depending on the timing of their signing, some international players originally signed in 2004 are also eligible.

If a team selects a player in the major-league portion of Rule 5, the selecting team must pay the original team $50,000, and must keep the player on their 25-man roster on DL for the entire season; the player must also be on the active roster for 90 days (so you can’t select someone and stash him on the 60-day DL all season). If a team decides that it does not want the player, the player must clear waivers first, and then be offered back to the original team for 1/2 of the original price. If the player is claimed on waivers or traded, the Rule 5 obligation passes to his new team.

Most people have heard of the top players - RHP Eduardo Morlan (Rays), C James Skelton (Tigers), and LHP Donald Veal (Cubs) have been getting a lot of play. I have made no secret that I like Morlan among the collection of eligibles. Some other guys that I find interesting:

RHP Mark McCormick (Cardinals): He hasn’t been healthy for a couple of years, and I’m not sure he is now. Even when he was healthy, he had trouble throwing strikes. Definitely has the power arm, though.
RHP Luis Perdomo (Cardinals): Acquired from the Indians for Anthony Reyes, another guy with a power arm and command problems.
RHP Juan Abreu (Royals): Ditto.
RHP Kevin Whelan (Yankees): Ditto.
C/3B Emerson Frostad (Rangers): I’m not sure he can really catch, but I like his general approach at the plate, and he does have a bit of pop.
INF WIll Rhymes (Tigers): I’d like him a lot more if he could play SS. Gets on base, can run, not much power potential. Lefty bat, which is nice.
OF/2B Matt Young (Braves): Another speed guy. Fun to watch, will take a walk, can cover some ground. Bat’s questionable.
3B Shawn Bowman (Mets): Back problems have derailed his career. The bat looked like it was coming back some in the AFL.