Phillies take Rays outfielder with top pick of 2015 Rule 5 Draft
Eleven players had their names called at the Winter Meetings on Thursday.
By
Dayn Perry
•
2 min read
As is the case every year, Thursday at the Winter Meetings occasioned the Rule 5 Draft. This time around 11 players were chosen during the major-league portion.
Before we get around to the results, a quick primer on the Rule 5 Draft ... Teams pick in reverse order of the most recent season's standings. They can choose any player from another team not on a 40-man roster who has been under contract for either four or five years (depending upon the player's age when he signed his first pro contract). Teams don't have to select a player (most don't), but if they do, they must leave him on the active -- i.e., 25-man -- MLB roster all season, otherwise they must put him on outright waivers for purposes of offering him back to his original team. Some notable Rule 5 picks throughout recent history include Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton, Dan Uggla, and Joakim Soria.
Now, here's how the major-league portion of Thursday's Rule 5 results unfolded ...
- Phillies: Tyler Goeddel, OF, Rays (Age 23, .262/.337/.403 and 108 steals across four minor-league seasons, spent all of 2015 at Double-A level)
- Reds: Jake Cave, OF, Yankees (Age 23, .285/.346/.391 and 47 steals in four seasons, reached Triple-A in 2015)
- Braves: Evan Rutckyj, LHP, Yankees (Age 23, 4.13 ERA and 1.91 K/BB in six seasons, reached Double-A in 2015)
- Rockies: Luis Perdomo, RHP, Cardinals (Age 22, 4.10 ERA and 2.87 K/BB in five seasons, reached High-A in 2015)
- Brewers: Colin Walsh, 1B, Athletics (Age 26, .278/.395/.422 in six seasons, reached Triple-A in 2014)
- Athletics*: Jabari Blash, OF, Mariners (Age 26, .256/.369/.500 and 109 HR in six seasons, 101 career games at Triple-A level). *Susan Slusser reports that Blash has been traded to Padres.
- Marlins: No pick
- Padres: Josh Martin, RHP, Indians (Age 25, 3.31 ERA and 3.58 K/BB in four seasons, spent 2015 at Double-A)
- Tigers: No pick
- White Sox: No pick
- Mariners: No pick
- Red Sox: No pick
- D-backs: No pick
- Rays: No pick
- Orioles: Joey Rickard, OF, Rays (Age 24, .283/.390/.397 and 73 steals in four seasons, reached Triple-A in 2015)
- Indians: No pick
- Twins: No pick
- Nationals: No pick
- Giants: No pick
- Angels: Deolis Guerra, RHP, Pirates (Age 26, 4.68 ERA and 2.17 K/BB in 10 minor-league seasons, pitched 10 games in majors in 2015)
- Astros: No pick
- Yankees: No pick
- Rangers: No pick
- Mets: No pick
- Dodgers: No pick
- Blue Jays: Joe Biagini, RHP, Giants (Age 25, 4.06 ERA and 2.16 K/BB in four seasons, reached Double-A in 2015)
- Royals: No pick
- Cubs: No pick
- Pirates: No pick
- Cardinals: Matt Bowman, RHP, Mets (Age 24, 3.87 ERA and 2.80 K/BB in four seasons, spent all of 2015 and part of 2014 at Triple-A)
If history is any guide, most of these draftees won't stick with the team that selected them on Thursday, mostly because it's difficult to carry a fringe contributor on the active roster for a full season. Teams squarely in rebuilding mode typically have the most roster flexibility. For instance, the Phillies, after finding success with Rule 5 draftee Odubel Herrera, may again be able to add to their organizational depth via this route.
