The A’s have informed Rule 5 pick Noah Murdock that he made the roster, manager Mark Kotsay told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. The 6’8″ righty will get the opportunity to make his MLB debut.
Murdock was the fourth player selected in December’s Rule 5 draft. (The A’s had the fifth pick, but Colorado passed at #2.) The A’s took the reliever out of the Kansas City farm system. Murdock divided his 2024 season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha. He worked to a 2.22 earned run average over 24 1/3 innings at the former level. Murdock posted a 3.76 ERA through 38 1/3 frames in Triple-A. He combined for a 27% strikeout rate and a huge 59.7% ground-ball percentage, though that came with an alarming 15.4% walk rate.
The control was presumably the main reason that Kansas City decided not to add Murdock to their 40-man roster. It’s common for pitchers as tall as he is to struggle to consistently line up their mechanics. The A’s were clearly intrigued by his combination of plus whiff and grounder rates. Murdock has managed seven strikeouts with five walks over 7 2/3 innings of three-run ball this spring. He has gotten grounders on three-quarters of the batted balls he’s allowed.
Teams need to carry their Rule 5 picks on the MLB roster or injured list for the entire season to retain their contractual rights. They’d otherwise need to place the player on waivers and, if he clears, offer him back to his original organization. Murdock will likely begin the season in a low-leverage relief role. With Michel Otañez beginning the season on the injured list, the A’s have José Leclerc and T.J. McFarland lined up as their top setup options in front of star closer Mason Miller.
Worth a look-see.
Question: if a team carries a rule 5 player for 1/4 of a season then decides to place player on waivers. If claimed, how long does the new team have to keep him on active roster to retain the rights? 3/4 of a season or a full season?
Pretty sure they have to keep them on the roster the ENTIRE season or offer them back to the team they drafted them from. There are no waivers involved.
Pretty sure it’s 3/4.
Here’s the low down:
A player who is a rule 5 pick has to stick the whole season active or on IL.
If the drafting team no longer wants him there’s 2 choices: 1) he can be traded, with the new team then required to keep him on their roster or IL list for the balance of the same season (ie you can stack service time between multiple teams to equal the 1 year to assume permanent control rights.) 2) you place the rule 5 pick on waivers. The other 28 teams have a chance to claim him, and, if nobody does, he must be offered back to the team he was drafted from for $50k. Should the other 28 teams pass, and, his original deal declines to pay $50k, he’s outrighted off the 40 man roster to the minors and control remains with the team that had him as a rule 5 player.
Make sense?
The claiming team would have to keep the player on the roster for the remainder of the season.
Interestingly, Jose Bautista would be taken by the Orioles from the Pirates in the Rule 5 draft in December 2003, would open ’04 with the Orioles, would later be claimed by the Devil Rays, purchased by the Royals, traded to the Mets then ultimately traded back to the Pirates, all by July 30th
Perhaps a Rockies fan knows, but why did they pass at #2 to grab a pitcher in Rule 5 since it’s a tough draw for FA arms?
Rox gotta Rox.
The rockies have no idea what they are doing at this point
Was wondering what happened to Murdock since the A-Team.
He became the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.
Wonder if he is Howlin’ Mad?
Crazier than Murdock.
It’s a mystery.
It being St Paddy’s day (the not Irish but American holiday to honor a likely Gael-Roman), I am satisfied that there was at least one article about a team that dons the green.
The A’s aren’t just making a normal Rule 5 pick—they’re stress-testing whether they can use MLB innings as a developmental tool instead of a minor-league system.
If it works, expect more tanking teams to start hoarding high-upside, flawed arms from other farm systems and refining them in live games, turning Rule 5 into a true “free talent” source.
In other words, you expect a flood of them after Noah.
This has already been happening across the league for decades. Most flame out quickly or ,keep getting injured. The latter was the case of Nick Burdi. Wax taken by the Phillies in December 2017. Looked great when healthy but never stayed healthy. Now with Boston, his sixth organization.
Good for him. One day on the roster gives him lifetime healthcare, which is extremely valuable, even if he makes it no farther than that first day.