All 30 Major League teams have decisions to make ahead of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline to set 40-man rosters. Eligible players who are not added to their respective organization’s roster by then can be selected by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft, which is set for Thursday, Dec. 7, in Nashville.
Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn’t stay on the 26-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.
This year, that meant that a high school or international draught pick signed in 2019 needed to be safeguarded. It was the same situation with a college player selected in the 2020 Draught.
Six players on MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 100 Prospects required protection or exposure to the Rule 5 Draught:
Adael Amador, Rockies (No. 21), SS/2B
Brewers’ Jeferson Quero, C. (No. 32)
Twins OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (No. 48)
Rockies OF Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 49)
Dodgers’ Nick Frasso, RHP (No. 65)
Guardians (No. 80), Daniel Espino, RHP
If by the deadline none of these prospects were on 40-man rosters, that would be shocking. All 88 of the eligible Top 100 prospects over the previous eight seasons
That meant that an international or high school Draught pick signed in 2019 needed to be safeguarded for this year. The same thing happened to a college player selected in the 2020 Draught.
Six players who were eligible for the Rule 5 Draught but needed to be protected are listed in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects:
Adael Amador, No. 21 Rockies SS/2B
Brewers (No. 32), C. Jeferson Quero
Emmanuel Rodriguez, No. 48, OF for the Twins
Rockies (No. 49) outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez
Dodgers’ RHP Nick Frasso (No. 65)
Guardians, Daniel Espino, RHP (No. 80)
If none of these prospects were added to 40-man rosters by the deadline, it would be shocking. In the previous eight seasons, every one of the 88 eligible Top 100 prospects
Colorado Mountains
Adael Amador, No. 1/MLB No. 21 (SS/2B)
MLB No. 49, Yanquiel Fernandez, OF (No. 2)
Aaron Schunk (No. 27), 3B/2B
No. 30: Juan Guerrero, OF
Tigers of Detroit
No. 7 Wilmer Flores, RHP
Dingler, C. Dillon (No. 11)
No. 22 Roberto Campos, OF
Keider Montero (No. 26), RHP
Astros of Houston
No. 8: Colin Barber, OF
No. 11 Kenedy Corona, OF
No. 14: Justin Dirden, OF
Miguel Palma, No. 17; C/1B
No. 19 Zach Daniels, OF
INF Shay Whitcomb (No. 25).
No. 27: Jaime Melendez, RHP
Tamarez Misael, RHP (No. 30)
Los Angeles Royals
No. 8 player Tyler Gentry, OF
RHP Will Klein (No. 25)
INF Devin Mann (No. 27)
Avila Luinder, RHP (No. 28)
