by Michael DeLuca
Each December, at the annual Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 Draft occurs. Without going into any great detail (so as not to bore your pants off), the concept behind the Rule 5 Draft is that if a team values a player that is languishing in another organization’s minor league system, enough that they feel he warrants a spot on their active 25 man roster, they may select that player. Once a team selects a player in the Rule 5 Draft he must remain on that team’s 25-man major league roster for the entire season and may not be optioned or designated to the minors. The selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. The draftee can also be traded, but his new team must abide by the same rules, keeping the player on their active 25 man roster for the entire season. Lower level minor leaguers can be selected, so long as they are promoted to the next level andremain there. The basic reasons behind this draft are to keep teams from stockpiling young talent in the minors and to ensure that players worthy of competing at the Major League Level can do so.
Players protected from the Rule 5 draft include those on each team’s current 40 man rosters, as well as recently selected draft picks. Any player 19 years of age or older is protected for four year’s after their selection in the amateur draft. Players under 19 are protected for 5 years. The drafting team must pay $50,000 to make a Rule 5 Draft pick. With these limitations, you would think that it would be impossible for top level talent to ever be selected in this draft…you’d be wrong. I present to you the All Rule 5 Team, a full lineup of current ballplayers that could match up well against just about any lineup in the bigs.
Pitcher – Johan Santana- Yup! Johan was selected in the 1999 Rule 5 draft by the Florida Marlins after the Houston Astros had declined to put him on their 40-man roster. He was then traded to the Minnesota Twins for Jared Camp in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history. Even more interesting is that Santana was the #2 selection in that Rule 5 Draft…Camp was the #1! Santana struggled initially, but the Twins wisely chose to keep him on their roster for the entire 2000 season, despite his 6.49 ERA. The rest is history.
Closer – Joakim Soria- The “Mexicutioner” was the 2nd selection in the 2006 Rule 5 draft. The San Diego Padres left him exposed by not adding him to the 40 man roster. This year, Soria’s got a glistening 1.96 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, 9.49 K’s per nine, and 33 saves earning himself a spot on the American League All-Star team. Trevor Hoffman, meanwhile, will be celebrating his 97th birthday with family and friends at the Bob Evans on Oakdale Blvd.
Catcher – Jesus Flores- Flores was selected by the Nationals from the Mets in the 06′ draft. He is now the every day catcher for the Nationals and has been very impressive. In 272 at bats, Flores is batting .272, has 8 home-runs, and has driven in 54 RBI’s.
First Base – Jay Gibbons – The fourth selection in the 2000 draft, Gibbons went from the Blue Jays to the Orioles. In 2005, Gibbons batted .277 with 26 home-runs. Oddly enough, first base is not a position that has seen a lot of Rule 5 gems.
Second Base – Dan Uggla – Somehow, Uggla become the darling of the Rule 5 Draft. This is the guy everyone knows and without him, the average fan may still never have heard the term “Rule 5.” Uggla is a rare commodity, a power hitting second basemen, capable of launching 40 home-runs in a single season.
Shortstop – Eugenio Velez -In 2005, Vélez was selected by the Giants from the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2005 minor league Rule 5 Draft. His 2006 performance with the Giants single A affiliate Augusta Green Jackets garnered him the Most Valuable Player of the South Atlantic League. Eugenio batted .315, had 64 stolen bases, 91 runs batted in. In spring training in 2008 he led the major leagues in stolen bases, with 16.
Third Base – Luis A. Gonzalez – OK, so he went to Japan to play ball for the Yomiuri Giants this year and was subsequently banned for a year after failing a drug test due to amphetamines. Nonetheless, Gonzalez was drafted by the Colorado Rockies from the Cleveland Indians in the 2003 Rule 5 Draft.
Outfield – Josh Hamilton- A lot of people know Hamilton’s history, but few know he was a Rule 5 selection. Considered a can’t miss blue chip prospect, he was the first overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Injuries and addiction derailed his career in 2001. Six year later, in December of 2006, Hamilton was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft. He was then sold to the Cincinnati Reds. Talk about smart shoppers. After having successful rookie season at 26 year’s of age, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez in the offseason.
Outfield – Shane Victorino- “The Flying Hawaiian” was a Rule 5 selection twice in four years. In 2004, it was the Phillies who snagged him from the Dodgers.
Outfield – Willy Taveras - Rule 5 selection of the Astros from Indians in 2003. Taveras was an odd case. After joining the Astrosthey quickly realized he wasn’t major league ready, but still loved his potential. They then worked out a trade withthe Indians so that they could sendhim down to Double A where he went on to win both the Texas League batting and stolen base crowns!
Stumble it!
love the trevor hoffman comment. all these rule 5 picks have turned out to be very good players so far in their careers.in my view, it seems like many fans don’t pay too much attention to drafts like these, or even pay attention to when players are drafted, so the fact that you know all this- well good work!
Great list Mike, watching Josh Hamilton dominate the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium was one of the highlights of the baseball season