NL Notes: Chapman, Stewart, Rockies, Braves

St. Patrick's Day is as much of a baseball holiday as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or Labor Day thanks to former Reds GM Dick Wagner. Tom Singer of MLB.com chronicles how the baseball tradition of wearing the green came about 35 years ago. Elsewhere from the Reds and the rest of the National League:

• Reds GM Walt Jocketty expects a decision in the next few days on whether Aroldis Chapman will pitch out of the bullpen or be moved into the starting rotatation, reports MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Chapman stated publicly he wants to close, which didn't sit well with Jocketty. "We don’t let every player tell us how they want to be used," the GM told MLB.com.
• Ian Stewart's lingering left quad injury could affect his chances at making the roster and how the Cubs build their bench, writes MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Brent Lillibridge, Luis Valbuena, Edwin Maysonet, and Alberto Gonzalez are competing to fill that void while manager Dale Sveum mentioned Steve Clevenger could be an interesting option and added the team is watching all the waiver wires. 
• The Rockies are giving serious consideration to making Nolan Arenado their starting third baseman with one club official telling Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com "it’s a tough call." If Arenado receives the nod, Rosenthal believes incumbent third baseman Chris Nelson could be used to acquire a veteran starting pitcher.
• Within the same piece, sources tell Rosenthal the Rockies want to move Ramon Hernandez and are willing to assume some of his $3.2MM salary to facilitate a trade.
• Don't expect the Braves to have any interest in the recently released Matt Diaz because there isn't a need right now, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• The Marlins have returned Rule 5 selection Braulio Lara to the Rays, reports Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. The left-hander appeared in four games for the Marlins this spring throwing four innings allowing two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

2012 Rule 5 Draft Results

Each year, Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings conclude with the Rule 5 Draft. For those who are unfamiliar with the event, MLBTR offers an in-depth description, but here's a quick overview.

Players are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft if they aren't on the 40-man roster four or five years after signing, depending on the age at which they signed. Teams draft in the reverse order of the previous season's standings but aren't required to make a selection. If they do choose a player, they pay his former team $50K and must keep that player on the Major League roster all season or offer him back to his original team for $25K.

The results from the Major League phase:

1. Astros take righty Josh Fields from Red Sox
2. Cubs take righty Hector Rondon from Indians
3. Rockies take lefty Danny Rosenbaum from Nationals
4. Twins take righty Ryan Pressly from Red Sox
5. Indians take first baseman Chris McGuiness from Rangers
6. Marlins take outfielder Alfredo Silverio from Dodgers
7. Red Sox take second baseman Jeff Kobernus from Nationals; traded to Tigers for infielder/outfielder Justin Henry
8. Royals
9. Blue Jays
10. Mets take lefty Kyle Lobstein from Rays; traded to Tigers for cash considerations
11. Mariners
12. Padres
13. Pirates
14. Diamondbacks take righty Starling Peralta from Cubs
15. Phillies take outfielder Ender Inciarte from Diamondbacks
16. Brewers
17. White Sox take infielder Angel Sanchez from Angels
18. Dodgers
19. Cardinals
20. Tigers
21. Angels
22. Rays
23. Orioles take lefty T.J. McFarland from Indians
24. Rangers take righty Coty Woods from Rockies
25. Athletics
26. Giants
27. Braves
28. Yankees
29. Reds
30. Nationals

Second round of Major League phase:

• Astros take first baseman Nate Freiman from Padres
• Marlins take lefty Braulio Lara from Rays