Rule 5 Draft

Many Rule 5 picks ultimately return to their original organizations, as it's not easy to keep inexperienced players in the Major Leagues all season long. Nine of the 19 players selected in the Major League phase of last offseason's Rule 5 draft are back where they started and only five remain on active MLB rosters. Here’s another update on the draftees, two months into the season:

On Active Rosters (5)

• Pedro Beato of the Mets has a 2.38 ERA with a 13K/6BB ratio in 22 2/3 innings of relief. The 24-year-old right-hander is one of the most impressive selections of the draft. 
• Aneury Rodriguez of the Astros has transitioned to the rotation, where he is holding his own. The right-hander has turned in three solid starts this month and has a 4.98 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 through 34 1/3 total innings this year.
• Like Rodriguez, Nathan Adcock of the Royals has transitioned to the rotation this month. He allowed seven runs in an ugly outing Friday, but his season numbers remain solid. The 23-year-old has a 4.07 ERA with 4.8 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 24 1/3 innings.
• D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson has used Joe Paterson strategically in his 22 appearances; 36 of the 49 batters who have faced the the southpaw have been left-handed. The results are good: one earned runs and 11 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings with 7 hits and 5 walks allowed.
• Phillies utility player Michael Martinez is not hitting (.184/.212/.204 line through 53 plate appearances), but he has filled in at up-the-middle positions for the Phillies, playing short, second and center field.

Traded (3)

The Mets returned Brad Emaus to the Blue Jays, who traded the infielder to Colorado. Rule 5 restrictions no longer apply to Emaus, so the Rockies don't have to worry about losing him. The Twins retained Scott Diamond in a trade with the Braves and he has posted a 5.40 ERA with a 33K/18BB ratio in nine Triple-A starts. The Red Sox sent Daniel Turpen to the Rockies.

Injured (2)

Elvin Ramirez (Nationals) and Mason Tobin (Rangers) have been on the 60-day DL for over a month. They have to spend 90 non-September days on the active roster to become official property of their new teams. Otherwise, their Rule 5 status carries forward until the players spend 90 non-September days on the active roster.

Back Where They Started (9)

Brian Broderick, Josh Rodriguez, Jose Flores, Adrian Rosario, Pat Egan, Lance Pendleton, George Kontos, Robert Fish and Cesar Cabral are back with their original organizations.

Many Rule 5 picks ultimately return to their original organizations, as it's not easy to keep inexperienced players in the Major Leagues all season long. So far, 2011 is no exception; 8 of the 19 players selected in the Major League phase of last offseason's Rule 5 draft are back where they started. Here are updates on the draftees, four weeks into the season:

On Active Rosters (6)

• Pedro Beato of the Mets has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings of relief. The most impressive Rule 5 pick of the year has allowed 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 8. 
• Brian Broderick of the Nationals has allowed 2 walks and 9 hits in 8 1/3 innings with a single strikeout. He'll have to pitch better to deserve a roster spot all season long.
• Another reliever, Aneury Rodriguez of the Astros, has allowed 9 hits and 4 walks in 8 innings, striking out 7.
• Nathan Adcock of the Royals has allowed 10 hits and 3 walks in 10 innings with 4 strikeouts for a 2.70 ERA.
• D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson has used Joe Paterson strategically in his 11 appearances; 16 of the 20 batters who have faced the the southpaw have been left-handed. The results are good: 0 earned runs and 5 strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings with 2 hits and 3 walks allowed.
• Phillies utility player Michael Martinez has only batted 17 times, but his .423 OPS is not impressive. The switch-hitter has played second, short and center and will have to hit more to keep his roster spot.

Traded (3)

The Mets returned Brad Emaus to the Blue Jays, who traded the infielder to Colorado. Rule 5 restrictions no longer apply to Emaus, so the Rockies don't have to worry about losing him. The Twins retained Scott Diamond in a trade with the Braves and he has posted a respectable 3.48 ERA in four Triple-A starts. The Red Sox sent Daniel Turpen to the Rockies.

Injured (2)

Elvin Ramirez (Nationals) and Mason Tobin (Rangers) are on the 60-day DL. As Adam Rubin points out at ESPNNewYork.com, they have to spend 90 non-September days on the active roster to become official property of their new teams. Otherwise, their Rule 5 status carries forward until the players spend 90 non-September days on the active roster.

Back Where They Started (8)

Josh Rodriguez, Jose Flores, Adrian Rosario, Pat Egan, Lance Pendleton, George Kontos, Robert Fish and Cesar Cabral are back with their original organizations.

19 players were taken in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft in December.  Rule 5 picks are often returned to their original teams, as it's challenging to keep these players in the Majors all year.  Another option is for the two clubs to work out a trade.  The latest on this year's group:

• Pirates took infielder Josh Rodriguez from Indians.  The Pirates are seriously considering trying to work out a deal with the Tribe, reported MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch on Saturday.  Rodriguez is still in the mix for the Pirates' backup middle infield job, but Langosch says Pedro Ciriaco appears to be the favorite.
• Mariners took reliever Jose Flores from Indians.  Flores has yet to pitch above Low-A ball, and his spring stats (five runs, four hits, and four walks in 3 2/3 innings) haven't helped his case.  Even in the Mariners' unsettled bullpen it would be tough to keep Flores up all year. 
• Diamondbacks took reliever Joe Paterson from Giants.  As of March 10th the sidearming southpaw was a leading candidate to make the D'Backs.  His spring numbers are strong, and he has Triple-A experience.
• Orioles took reliever Adrian Rosario from Brewers.  He's only made two appearances this spring, and one of them resulted in a walk-off home run.  As of Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com wrote that Rosario "isn't making the team."
• Royals took starter Nathan Adcock from Pirates.  Though he's only struck out three, Adcock is unscored upon in nine innings this spring.  He seems to have a good shot at making the team, a dream come true for a guy who was in High-A ball last year.
• Nationals took reliever Elvin Ramirez from Mets.  Back on March 13th, Adam Kilgore explained how arm trouble was preventing the Nationals from evaluating Ramirez.  Barring an amazing, healthy week Ramirez will be offered back to the Mets.
• Cubs took starter Mason Tobin from Angels; traded to Rangers.  With 5 2/3 scoreless innings, Tobin is "in the mix" for a bullpen job according to GM Jon Daniels.
• Astros took pitcher Aneury Rodriguez from Rays and starter Lance Pendleton from Yankees.  Neither pitcher won the fifth starter job, but Astros manager Brad Mills says they're both in the running for the bullpen.  Both have had control problems this spring.
• Brewers took reliever Pat Egan from Orioles.  He's tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings and has Triple-A experience, so he appears to be in the running for a bullpen job.
• Mets took second baseman Brad Emaus from Blue Jays.  He's still in the Mets' second base mix with Luis Hernandez and Daniel Murphy.  Emaus' spring performance hasn't helped, though the release of Luis Castillo did.
• Padres took reliever George Kontos from Yankees.  He was returned on March 14th.
• Twins took starter Scott Diamond from Braves.  A trade appeared possible earlier this month.  Diamond has allowed one run in six spring innings, though his strikeout and walk numbers aren't pretty.    
• Yankees took reliever Robert Fish from Angels; claimed off waivers by Royals.  The Royals claimed the hard-throwing lefty six days ago, so clearly they're considering him for their bullpen. 
• Rays took reliever Cesar Cabral from Red Sox.  The Blue Jays got involved at one point, which requires its own explanation.  Cabral remains in the mix for the Rays.
• Phillies took infielder Michael Martinez from Nationals.  Castillo affects another Rule 5 pick, as Martinez's chances are hurt by the Phillies' acquisition of the veteran.  Even without Castillo, Martinez did not appear to be a frontrunner at second base.
• Nationals took starter Brian Broderick from Cardinals.  On Friday Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said Broderick was "forcing the issue" in competing for a long relief job.  He's allowed one run in 10 2/3 innings, though he's only struck out four.
• Mets took reliever Pedro Beato from Orioles.  The strikeouts aren't there, but Beato still appears likely to make the team.
• Yankees took reliever Daniel Turpen from Red Sox.  He was returned to the Red Sox on March 13th.
• So far, only two of the 19 Rule 5 picks have been returned.  Expect plenty more this week.