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« Recommended: RotoWorld Draft Guide | Main | Reds Seek Catching Help »
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rule 5 Draftees
Last year the Reds selected Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft despite only 23 games above Single-A and only 15 games anywhere since 2002 (actually the Cubs picked Hamilton and traded him to the Reds the same day). Hamilton went on to hit .292-19-47 in 90 games. This year, 18 players were chosen in the Rule 5 draft (14 pitchers). These players must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their original club for $25K. By my count, three players (Sergio Valenzuela, Lincoln Holdzkom, Jose Capellan) have already been offered back to their original clubs (Capellan was picked up on waivers by a third team during the process). Hamilton is the rare case of a position player sticking with his new club as it is far easier to hide a developing pitcher and still get him playing time in the bullpen than it is on the bench.While it is rare for position players to stick, we have already learned that the Cardinals may keep Brian Barton as a fifth outfielder. As opening day rosters begin to take shape, let's take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere about the chances for the Rule draftees.
- Tim Lahey (RHP, CHC/MIN): Bleed Cubbie Blue sees the Cubs working out a trade with the Twins that would allow them to send Lahey to AAA. In fact, they speculate that Lahey will be the PTBNL in the Craig Monroe deal.
- Evan Meek (RHP, PIT/TB): Bucs Dugout predicts that Meek will at least start the season with the Pirates before being offered back to the Rays.
- Randor Bierd (RHP, BAL/DET): Bird Brain projects Bierd to make the roster and hopes the O's give him every chance to stick.
- Jose Capellan (LHP, CIN/BOS): Capellan was originally selected by the Giants but was just placed on waivers. The Reds picked him up (Rule 5 rules still apply) and Obsessive Giants Compulsive is surprised the Giants let him go.
- Sergio Valenzuela (RHP, CIN/ATL): Valenzuela was sold back to the Braves after not making a single appearance in a spring game. The Braves then traded Valenzuela to a team in the Mexican League. Which begs the question...Are "future considerations" from the Mexican League worth the $25K the Braves dropped to bring him back? Talking Chop finds the entire situation funny and is not surprised that Valenzuela did not stick with the Reds.
- Brian Barton (OF, STL/CLE): Cardinals GM is predicting Barton to be on the opening day roster with Juan Gonzalez starting the season in AAA.
- R.A. Dickey (RHP, SEA/MIN): Detect-O-Vision is infatuated with the knuckleballer but notes that Dickey "has a looooooooooong way to go".
- Steven Register (RHP, NYM/COL): Mets Fever thinks Register might actually stick by earning the final spot in the bullpen.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.
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The Cubs already sent a player to be named. Clay Rapada (info is from Baseball America)
Posted by: cubbyrick | March 18, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Not mentioned here but Wesley Wright (picked up from the Dodgers to the Stros) a lefty reliever has been pitching well this spring and has a good shot to make the team.
Posted by: mitch4ya | March 18, 2008 at 02:23 PM
hahaha... I read that about Sergio Valenzuela being sent to trhe Mexican League. I winder what kind of "future considerations" they hope to get for him from Mexico... Maybe a 12 yr old kid with a wicked curve?
Posted by: FineHamAbounds | March 18, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Rapada? No, either you or I are confused here rick. The Cubs GET a PTBNL FROM Minny FOR Monroe. They blog is saying they may try and work something out to where Lahey is that PTBNL
Posted by: Aduncaroo | March 18, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I thought Lahey had a shot at making the club. They are already stacked from the right side in the pen. I hope they do keep him for AAA though.
Posted by: studio179 | March 18, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I really like Randy Wells, the Rule 5 guy the Jays picked up.
Im pretty sure he hasn't given up a run in relief work this ST, but Toronto has just soooo many good guys in their bullpen, i really don't think there's gonna be any room for him.
Too bad, in a way.
As well, im cheering for R.A. Dickey all the way. You can't let the knuckleball die out.
Posted by: BaseBallz | March 18, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Aduncaroo,
I think it's me that is confused. The Cubs ORIGONALLY sent Rapada to Detroit FOR Monroe. I'm forgetting the Cubs sent him packing to Minni. Thanks for correcting me.
Posted by: cubbyrick | March 18, 2008 at 02:59 PM
anyone else find it funny that the cubs had hamilton who plays center and their biggest need(as it was last year) is in center. man the cubs suck so much. i cant wait til they trade some more prospects for roberts. no future in chicago. no past either.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 18, 2008 at 03:24 PM
The Cubs suck so much? You can't even compare them with the Cards this year for sucking. I don't care if the Cubs are only picked to win the NL Central by default, they're still picked to win it.
Posted by: worldcupfever | March 18, 2008 at 03:28 PM
haha joel i think the exact same thing whenever i see rule 5 news now. i was very glad to see the cubs pick up hamilton and was extremely pissed and confused when we flipped him the SAME DAY to the reds. i mean, come on....even if the guy's all hopped up on smack there's gotta be a reason he was chosen #1. should've given him a chance.
Posted by: msk86 | March 18, 2008 at 03:31 PM
joelcards:
I'm not fond of the Cubs either but don't you think that's a bit juvenile?
Posted by: WHIPit | March 18, 2008 at 04:05 PM
I'm guessing the Reds saw something in Hamilton that the Cubs didn't, so the Cubs just saw it as an easy way to get $125K.
Posted by: worldcupfever | March 18, 2008 at 04:11 PM
first off typekey is worthless. anyways as ive said in almost every post all offseason, i concede this year to the cubs. this is the first year since i can remember they actually have the best team on paper. with all those bad backloaded contracts they have been signing guys to they better win this year. and yes that was a bit juvenile, and if u dont like it u can eat poop.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 18, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I'd bet there's a good chance the A's keep Fernando Hernandez. He could end up being a decent Rule 5 success story.
Posted by: Snooky | March 18, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Everyone gets on the Cubs for trading away a player they never had. First of all, why doesn't anyone talk about the D-Rays letting Hamilton go? And secondly, no other team in baseball thought this guy was worth MORE than the $125k the Reds paid the Cubs for him, or they could've had him, too.
Let's be honest with ourselves ... Hamilton was a major reach by the Reds. To spend ANY time or money on a kid with his past, having never seen him take a swing or shag a ball at any level about Single-A is taking a risk ... and it worked out for them.
What we should do now is say "good for them" and move on.
And who says the Cubs are in such great need of a CF?
Posted by: AJ | March 18, 2008 at 04:36 PM
i agree hamilton was a big reach. i just like to remind cubs fans of opportunity missed. and who says the cubs r in need of a centerfielder? jim hendry and lou piniella. hendry said point blank the other day they want another center fielder.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 18, 2008 at 04:48 PM
"Another CF" is very different than Josh Hamilton. Marlon Byrd and Jay Payton are right-handed backup OF's capable of handling CF. So what? I don't think they're lack of a backup CF is going to keep them out of the playoffs.
I hate the Cubs, by the way, and there are plenty of stupid moves Hendry has made to make fun of them about ... they just don't have anything to do with Josh Hamilton.
Posted by: AJ | March 18, 2008 at 04:54 PM
I liken Hamilton to Tom Brady. I think the Pats get too much credit for selecting Brady in the 6th round. If they knew he was going to be hall of fame QB they would not have taken a chance and waited until the 6th round to pick him. They got lucky. Same thing with Hamilton. If the Reds were so convinced he was going to be that good, they wouldn't have waited until the RUle 5 draft. they would have been knocking down the Rays door offering trading pieces long before having to bribe him off the Cubs.
Posted by: Cork Gaines | March 18, 2008 at 04:55 PM
i think if the cubs could have hamilton starting for them instead of pie they might like that. i like pie but i think hamilton is hitting 600 this spring. who knows, they could have saves themselves 12 mil for the next 4 years and not signed fuku. its only money though right?
Posted by: Joelcards | March 18, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I know Hamilton got all the atention, but the Nationals kept Jesus Flores last year, and stealing him from the Mets feels really good.
I wish the Nats could keep Garrett Guzman, and maybe even Matt Whitney, although he didn't have a good spring. However, I am glad the team has more depth, and doesn't have as much room.
Posted by: Positively Half St. | March 18, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I thought Hamilton turned down the Rays; not the Rays turning away Hamilton.
Or, i could be wrong.
Still, him and Jason Jennings will be two underrated top contributers this year for the Rangers.
Posted by: BaseBallz | March 18, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Tim:
Randy Wells on the Jays has been making some huge strides in ST. A recently converted position player, he has been perfect so far and absolutely dominant. The Janssen injury may at least give him an opportunity to start the season in Toronto.
Posted by: Grant77 | March 18, 2008 at 07:08 PM
For the Padres, Calix Crabbe is considered a favorite to win a bench spot, since he plays pretty much every position including hitting coach, bullpen catcher, and personal trainer. Plus he can run, and the Padres don't have anyone who can run.
Carlos Guevara had a good shot to make the team, but I'm not so sure about that now. There's been much better bullpen candidates in ST than him.
Posted by: JollyWaffle | March 18, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Dont get on the Cubs for not keeping Hamilton.First remember the old saying "once bitten twice shy". I bring that up as Lou Pinnella was his 1st ML mgr, and maybe Lou didnt want to get burned again.When the Cubs selected hime and traded to the Reds and it was an astronomical gamble, just look at his career--
1999 Drafted by the Rays
1999-2000 played in rookie level
2001 played 27 games
2002 played 56 games
2003 suspended
2004 suspended
2005 suspension extended due to violations
2006 played from July 4th to July 29th and missed rest of season due to injury.
So he had very little minor league experience and no major league experience and people would want him to take a roster spot for a whole season????
Posted by: ryno23 | March 18, 2008 at 10:03 PM
how many freaking cubs fans r on this site. geez. hey maybe it will be the year. and maybe ross perot will be elected president. and maybe ill get an hd dvd player. and maybe girls with back tattoos have both their parents around. and maybe......
Posted by: Joelcards | March 18, 2008 at 10:52 PM
We Cubs fans are everywhere, you cant hide we will find you. You cant get rid of us we will not leave.And the best part of being a Cubsfan??? no matter how much they win or lose we stick by them and NEVER jump off the bandwagon.
Posted by: ryno23 | March 18, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Hey Joelcards, an HD DVD player is the last thing you need to dream about. You should first worry about getting a full set of teeth, a Y chromosome and a life.
Posted by: INOK | March 19, 2008 at 01:47 AM
i guess u didnt get the hd dvd player comment inok. also mine was funny, yours wasnt. and yes ryno if there is one thing cubs r is loyal. it sounds like your implying others jump off the bandwagon which they do. heck i know the cards arent good this year but its all good. when people say to me they r cubs fans the first thing i say is u must really like baseball. only a diehard could watch 100 years of futility. thats what u call a backhanded compliment. see i compliment u while ripping the cubs.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 19, 2008 at 01:56 AM
inok i have already admitted i dont have a life so that one doesnt bother me. how does it work when u go to a game cubs fans? do u guys just get really drunk so it doesnt bother u? r u so accustomed to losing that u expect to lose? i have a friend who gambles and he only enjoys it when he loses all his money. same logic? loyalty is a good quality but so is being a winner.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 19, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Joel, a little headsup for you.
There are exactly zero Cub fans that have watched 100 years of futility.
Posted by: davearm | March 19, 2008 at 03:44 PM
It is kinda funny to see Cubs fans try and explain away the Hamilton misstep
"He wasn't ever really on the Cubs"
"We don't really NEED a centerfielder"
"The Reds took an ENORMOUS gamble and got lucky"
Nobody else thought he was worth anything (ignoring the fact that most teams didn't have the opportunity to draft him)
Don't get on the Cubs for not keeping Hamilton
Hendry's not to blame
etc. etc. etc.
The fact is, the Cubs would LOVE to have a guy with Hamilton's credentials on their team, and you can bet they rue the day they had him and sent him away.
Posted by: Devlsh | March 19, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Adunc, you are 100% correct.
The proper description would be to say there are GENERATIONS of Cubs fans who have never witnessed a Cubs World Series.
Posted by: Devlsh | March 19, 2008 at 07:42 PM
haha devish, u tell em.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 20, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Devlsh you display an impressive ability to misunderstand/misconstrue the Hamilton situation.
The Cubs never "had him and sent him away."
The Cubs and Reds worked out a pre-draft trade. The player the Reds intended to select with the pick they were receiving from the Cubs wasn't made known to the Cubs until moments before the selection was made.
It was never in the Cubs' plans to select Hamilton, and the fact that techically he was Cubs property for maybe an hour is completely irrelevant. For all intents and purposes he was picked by the Reds.
So "he wasn't ever really on the Cubs" is indeed accurate.
"the Reds took an ENORMOUS gamble and got lucky".
Well the size of the gamble is certainly debatable, especially for a noncontender like the '07 Reds, but the exceedingly fortunate outcome is undeniable.
"Nobody else thought he was worth anything."
Nobody offered anything in trade to the DRays in advance of the Rule 5 draft, even after it was revealed that Hamilton had been exposed, so that statement is certainly accurate. Heck even the Reds thought he wasn't worth any more than the chump change it took to obtain him.
"most teams didn't have the opportunity to draft him"
The Reds themselves didn't have the opportunity to draft Hamilton that early until they pursued the trade that landed them that pick. Any other team could've made the same trade.
Posted by: davearm | March 20, 2008 at 12:46 AM