The Philadelphia Phillies shocked the world when they selected corner outfielder Tyler Goeddel with the first-overall pick in the draft on Wednesday.
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Players who were signed at 18 or younger and have five seasons of professional experience, or four years if they were signed at 19 or older, and are not on a team’s 40-man roster are eligible to be picked in the Rule 5 Draft. 279 with 12 home runs, 72 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 123 games last season at Double-A Montgomery. Most teams don’t seem to want to bother with the roster restrictions on marginal players, or maybe they just like who they’ve got already.
Earlier this morning, the Rule 5 draft took place at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN.
In the AAA phase of the Draft today, Atlanta selected RHP Enderson Franco from the Marlins, a nearly-23-year-old who had a 3.89 ERA for the Rays in A-ball before going to the Marlins (7.29 ERA with them at the same level).
In the Rule 5 draft, teams pay $50,000 to pick a player.
Goeddel, who was moved from third base to the outfield last season, committed just two errors while splitting time at all three outfield positions for the Biscuits.
Rutckyj, a Canadian (and that name is pronounced “Evan”) was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 16th round of the 2010 draft out of his St. Thomas, Ontario high school.
McKirahan was a Rule 5 pick by the Marlins last December, so the Braves had to keep him on their roster all season after claiming him off waivers late in spring training. Ondo left open the possibility of him returning to the infield since he is trying to make the team but said the Phillies took him as an outfielder.
Cave is considered a solid all-around hitter who can also defend all three outfield spots.
Of the players the Nationals didn’t put on their 40-man roster who are exposed to the Rule 5, there aren’t a ton of attractive possibilities for other teams to ponder.
“I am confident we’ll take one”, general manager Matt Klentak said. “He’s a former starter, someone we were really excited to add to our organization”.
If those conditions are met, then a player may be selected in the draft. “He’s an aggressive reliever up to 94 [mph] and he’s got a slider to get left-handers out”.
The Phillies did not lose anyone in the major-league phase.
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That said, teams aren’t likely to leave better options unprotected, especially with starting pitchers valued so highly these days.
