Players selected in the annual Rule 5 Draft must remain on their new team's 25-man active roster all season, or be passed through waivers and offered back to their original club. Here's an update on the 12 players taken in the Major League portion of last December's draft…
- Rhiner Cruz, RHP, Astros (from Mets) — The 25-year-old has worked out of the Houston bullpen all season and owns a 6.80 ERA in 47 2/3 innings.
- Terry Doyle, RHP, Twins (from White Sox) — Doyle was returned to the ChiSox in Spring Training and he's since moved on to a team in Japan.
- Lucas Luetge, LHP, Mariners (from Brewers) — The 25-year-old southpaw has turned into a reliable bullpen weapon, pitching to a 3.13 ERA in 37 1/3 innings while holding left-handed hitters to a .169/.267/.169 batting line.
- Ryan Flaherty, IF, Orioles (from Cubs) — Flaherty, 26, has spent time on the DL this season but has otherwise hit .211/.252/.309 in 135 plate appearances for Baltimore.
- Cesar Cabral, LHP Yankees (from Red Sox via trade with Royals) — Cabral has been on the DL all season with an elbow injury.
- Lendy Castillo, RHP, Cubs (from Phillies) — The 23-year-old missed considerable time with a groin strain and owns a 10.22 ERA in 12 1/3 innings for Chicago.
- Gustavo Nunez, IF, Pirates (from Tigers) — Nunez has been on the DL all season with an ankle injury.
- Robert Fish, LHP, Braves (from Angels) — Fish has been on the DL all season with an elbow injury.
- Erik Komatsu, OF, Cardinals (from Nationals) — The 24-year-old hit .211/.286/.211 in 21 plate appearances with St. Louis, was claimed off waivers by the Twins, hit .219/.297/.219 in 37 plate appearances with Minnesota, then was returned to the Nationals in May.
- Marwin Gonzalez, IF, Astros (from Cubs via trade with Red Sox) — Gonzalez spent some time on the DL but has otherwise hit .234/.280/.328 in 215 plate appearances with Houston.
- Brett Lorin, RHP, Diamondbacks (from Pirates) — Arizona retained Lorin after a Spring Training trade with Pittsburgh.
- Brad Meyers, RHP, Yankees (from Nationals) — Meyers has been on the DL all season with a shoulder injury.
Cruz, Luetge, Flaherty, Castillo, and Gonzalez will become property of their current teams once the season ends, meaning they can go to the minors without having to clear waivers in the future. Players who not spend at least 90 days on the active (non-DL) roster like Cabral, Nunez, Fish, and Meyers will still be subject to the Rule 5 Draft rules next season.
Isn’t it just amazaing how many injuries these players sustain. Put on DL all year……simply amazing.
Hah I was just about to say that. It’s a bunch of crap if you ask me
Sometimes they actually are, it’s not everytime u know and injuries (past) are sometimes why some players are left not protected.
Boston took Miguel Gonzalez from Anaheim winter ’08 coming off of a year where he had missed the entire season with Anaheim and was left not protected as an example. boston took him, tho he almost imediately had to have TJ surgery and missed just about 2 full seasons from both injuries.
If a guy spends time on the disabled list he has to make it up the following season. There was talk in Baltimore when Flarethy went on the DL that he would have to start next year on the 25
Nunez must have suffered the same “injury” as Donnie Veal did a few seasons ago.
Seattle the big winner this year no doubt
Though Flaherty’s slash line isn’t the best, his value is more with how many positions he can play. I, at least, am glad we picked him up.
But that .252 OBP is fuggly.
Like I said, his offensive numbers aren’t the best, but we never really gave him consistent at bats for stretches of time. He was like a super-super-utility man who gave our regulars a day off from time to time.
Always seems to be lefty relievers and utility players that pan out from rule v draft.
With rare exception (Josh Hamilton, for ex.), it doesn’t make sense to pick up players through the rule-5 draft. Plus, it handcuffs the team b/c you have to keep the player on the roster or he has to be offered back to his original team.
Why not? Josh Hamilton, Dan Uggla, Johan Santana all were rule 5 picks. It costs 50K to get the player, which is pretty cheap way to get talent. Maybe for the Yankees it doesn’t make as much sense, but for the Astros or any other bottom barrel team. If you just find a couple decent players.