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2017 Rule 5 Draft

2017-18 Rule 5 Draft Update

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It’s been more than a month since MLBTR last checked in on the status of the 18 players who were selected in the Major League phase of last December’s Rule 5 Draft. Since that time, Opening Day rosters have been set, and there have been a few notable developments as pertains to this group. Here’s how they’re all faring thus far in 2018:

Active Big Leaguers

  • Victor Reyes, OF, Tigers (selected from D-backs): The Tigers are hanging onto the top pick in December’s draft, though “active” is probably a generous adjective when describing his role. The 23-year-old has received just eight plate appearances and seen action in only eight games all season — most often working as a pinch-runner. The Tigers are obviously high on Reyes, and given their rebuilding status they can afford to roster him while using him in incredibly sparing fashion. At a certain point, though, they’ll need to start getting him into the game, as he’s missing out on valuable reps by riding the bench this often.
  • Brad Keller, RHP, Royals (from D-backs, via trade with Reds): So far, so good for Keller. The 22-year-old was a starter in Arizona’s system and skipped Triple-A to jump right into the K.C. bullpen. Thus far, he’s tossed seven innings and allowed three runs on nine hits and a pair of walks (one intentional) with four strikeouts and a 52 percent grounder rate. The Royals can afford to keep Keller all season as long as performance dictates, and thus far he’s done nothing to really jeopardize his standing.
  • Burch Smith, RHP, Royals (from Rays via trade with Mets): The 28-year-old Smith has big league experience, but that came all the way back in 2013 before a series of injuries slowed his career. The Royals have used him more heavily than Keller, giving him 10 2/3 innings thus far. Smith has a 3.38 ERA  (four runs allowed) and 11 strikeouts in that time, but he’s also issued eight walks (none of which were intentional) and hit a batter. He’ll need better control, but he seems safe for now.
  • Tyler Kinley, RHP, Twins (from Marlins): The Twins have carried relievers for a full season in the past (Ryan Pressly, J.R. Graham), but they’re not really in position to have a reliever they don’t trust in anything but mop-up or blowout scenarios at present. With Minnesota aiming to contend and in the midst of an ugly losing streak that has depleted their ’pen, it’s somewhat surprising that they’re hanging onto Kinley, who has served up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings thus far. A fastball that can reach triple digits is always enticing, but the Twins need more certainty from their relief corps than Kinley can offer at present.
  • Pedro Araujo, RHP, Orioles (from Cubs): Baltimore opened the year with two picks from the 2017 Rule 5 Draft on their roster, but only Araujo is still with the club. He’s been thrown right into the fire by Buck Showalter and worked in some higher-leverage spots than most Rule 5 picks encounter, but the results haven’t been there thus far. Araujo has a 16-to-5 K/BB ratio in 11 innings, but he’s also served up two homers, posted a 5.73 ERA and induced grounders at just a 30.8 percent clip. He’s done a good job of limiting hard contact, however, and fielding-independent metrics feel he’s been better than that ugly ERA (4.26 FIP, 3.87 xFIP, 2.90 SIERA). The O’s already look buried in the AL East, making it easier to let Araujo develop at the MLB level if they wish.
  • Luke Bard, RHP, Angels (from Twins): Bard technically still falls into this category, but that may not be the case for long. The righty broke camp with the Angels but was just designated for assignment over the weekend. Bard is still in DFA limbo, so there’s a chance that another club is enticed by his lofty spin rate and elects to roll the dice on him. Bard did strike out 13 batters against five walks in 10 2/3 MLB frames, but he also hit three batters and served up seven runs on the strength of four homers. If he clears waivers, he’ll be offered back to Minnesota for $50K.

On the Disabled List

  • Julian Fernandez, RHP, Giants (from Rockies): Fernandez won’t be a factor for the Giants in 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this month. He’ll presumably spend the season on the 60-day DL, racking up a year of big league service time, and will retain his Rule 5 status once healthy in 2019.
  • Nick Burdi, RHP, Pirates (from Twins via trade with Phillies): The former Louisville star was a supplemental-round pick of the Twins out of college thanks largely to an 80-grade fastball that can frequently touch triple digits, but injuries have slowed his career. The Twins surprised some by not placing Burdi on the 40-man roster, and the Pirates will have a chance to develop him and gain control of a power arm once he recovers from Tommy John surgery this summer. That Pittsburgh is off to such a promising start to the season could make it difficult for them to hang onto him, though.
  • Carlos Tocci, OF, Rangers (from Phillies, via trade with White Sox): An injury to Delino DeShields (who is now back) got Tocci some extra looks at the plate, but he’s just 2-for-25 with one walk against a dozen strikeouts in 28 total plate appearances. Tocci is on the 10-day DL with a hip contusion at present, but he’ll need to produce more to stick with the Rangers all season. The fact that Texas has already been decimated by injuries and is off to an 8-17 start could actually benefit him, though. If the Rangers ultimately decide they’re destined for a sell-off, they can keep Tocci on the roster in spite of any struggles.
  • Elieser Hernandez, RHP, Marlins (from Astros): The Marlins have yet to get a real look at the 22-year-old Hernandez, as he opened the season on the disabled list after having his wisdom teeth removed late in Spring Training. He’s on a rehab assignment in Class-A Advanced at the moment, where he has not thrown especially well. Hernandez has never even pitched at the Double-A level, though as is the case with the Tigers and Reds, the Marlins are in position to stash just about anyone on their big league roster for a season if they wish. They’ll need to make a call on him one way or another in the near future.
  • Brett Graves, RHP, Marlins (from Athletics): Miami has yet to get a look at Graves during the regular season, as he’s currently on the 60-day disabled list due to an oblique injury. If he doesn’t spend at least 90 days on the active big league roster this year but sticks with the organization, he’d have to carry over his Rule 5 eligibility into the 2019 season until reaching that 90-day total.

Returned to Original Organization

Other Cases

  • Albert Suarez, RHP: Suarez accepted an outright assignment from the D-backs after clearing waivers. While a player would normally have to be offered back to his original organization at that point — the Giants, in this instance — Suarez was not required to be offered back to San Francisco due to the fact that he’d previously been outrighted off a 40-man roster in his career. That rare exemption allowed the D-backs to hang onto him, though he’s struggled in Triple-A Reno thus far (7.94 ERA, 10.3 K/9, 5.6 BB/9, two homers in 11 2/3 innings).
  • Dan Winkler, RHP, Braves: Winkler’s Rule 5 status carried over all the way back to the 2014 Rule 5 Draft, as his career with the Braves has been beset by injuries. Winkler, at long last, is healthy and has seen that status expire, meaning the Braves could option him without exposing him to waivers first. Of course, with a 1.59 ERA and a 17-to-5 K/BB ratio thus far, there’s no reason for the Braves to think about doing so.
  • Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles: Santander, too, saw his previous Rule 5 status carry over into the 2018 season, and he’s about three weeks away from fulfilling that goal and allowing the Orioles to option him if need be. That certainly seems plausible, as Santander is toting a dismal .153/.194/.254 batting line through 62 plate appearances thus far. The O’s have been giving him work, but if he doesn’t turn things around at the plate in short order, the 23-year-old switch-hitter could be bound for Triple-A once eligible.

Giants’ Julian Fernandez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

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Giants right-hander Julian Fernandez will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area was among those to report. San Francisco previously placed Fernandez on the 60-day disabled list earlier this week.

The 22-year-old Fernandez has never even pitched above the Single-A level, nor is he a high-end prospect. But the news is particularly noteworthy because Fernandez was a Rule 5 pick last December, when the Giants snatched him from the NL West rival Rockies with the No. 2 selection. The fact that Fernandez will now undergo this procedure means he’ll rack up a year of service time and earn a a major league-minimum salary ($545K) in the process. As MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk noted earlier this week, that could be a minor nuisance for San Francisco, which has little wiggle room as it works to stay under the $197MM competitive balance tax threshold.

During 7 1/3 spring innings with the Giants, Fernandez yielded a whopping 11 earned runs on 10 hits and five walks, with an eye-opening 12 strikeouts. Fernandez was far more effective at preventing runs last year in 58 innings with the Rockies’ Single-A affiliate, as he logged a 3.26 ERA/3.09 FIP with 8.84 K/9 and 2.79 BB/9.

Latest On Giants’ Pitching Injuries

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The injury bug has continued to attack Giants pitching, as manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including NBCSports.com’s Alex Pavlovic and Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group) that right-hander Julian Fernandez has suffered a UCL sprain and is headed to the disabled list.  Furthermore, closer Mark Melancon’s availability for Opening Day could be in question, as his arm is still bothering him after making back-to-back appearances last Thursday and Friday.

Fernandez was selected out of the Rockies’ farm system in last December’s Rule 5 Draft, and would’ve had to remain on San Francisco’s 25-man roster all season or else be offered back to Colorado.  Placing Fernandez on the DL would keep him in the Giants organization for now, though the larger concern is the 22-year-old’s health status.  The timeline for such UCL injuries vary greatly due to the severity of the sprain, though Fernandez will likely be sidelined for at least a few months.

If Fernandez did require Tommy John surgery, that procedure would have an interesting big-picture impact on the Giants.  As The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly observes, Fernandez would be placed on the Major League disabled list and clock a year of service time while recovering from a TJ procedure, and he would also earn the $545K minimum salary.  Even that small payroll addition would be an added stress for a Giants team that has very little space under the $197MM luxury tax threshold, after the team made a point this offseason of somewhat limiting its spending to get under the threshold and reset its tax overage counter.  That $545K would be an expense that the Giants weren’t planning to make at all for Fernandez, as he struggled (13.50 ERA) over 7 1/3 spring innings and potentially could’ve been considered not worthy of a 25-man spot.

Melancon’s back-to-back outings marked the first time he’d pitched in consecutive days this spring, as the veteran reliever continues his recovery from forearm surgery last September.  Needless to say, any further soreness is a red flag for both he and the team, though Bochy said that Melancon’s roster status wouldn’t be determined until after he tests his arm further by playing catch over the next day or two.  Melancon has been bothered by some arm fatigue throughout camp and pitched in just five games throughout Spring Training as the team tried to bring him along slowly.

The closer is trying to rebound after a disappointing and injury-marred first season in San Francisco that saw him post a 4.50 ERA over 30 innings.  If Melancon does go on the disabled list, the Giants could turn to setup men Hunter Strickland or Tony Watson for save situations, or potentially again use Sam Dyson as closer as they did in 2017.  Dyson, however, has struggled through a very rough spring.

It has already been a brutal spring health-wise for the Giants, with Madison Bumgarner (fractured finger) and Jeff Samardzija (strained pec) both going down with injuries that have badly stretched the team’s pitching depth.  GM Bobby Evans told Baggarly and other reporters that “I anticipate we will remain internal” in regards to finding replacements, though Evans is open to the idea of potentially adding new pitchers.

Indians Claim Jack Leathersich, Trade Rob Refsnyder To Rays

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The Indians announced a series of moves this afternoon, including a claim of lefty Jack Leathersich from the Pirates.  (The @RedSoxStats Twitter feed was first to report the claim earlier today.)  A 40-man spot for Leathersich was opened by shipping infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder to the Rays in exchange for cash.

In other news, Cleveland announced that righty Jordan Milbrath — who was taken in the Rule 5 draft in December — was returned by the Pirates after clearing waivers. Finally, veteran infielder Adam Rosales is joining the Indians on a minors deal.

Refsnyder was out of options, and thus the Tribe at least managed to get some money back for him rather than simply losing the utilityman if exposed to waivers.  Refsnyder had been battling for a backup infield job in camp, though it appears Erik Gonzalez has won that role.  Cleveland looks to be carrying five outfielders, with right-handed hitters Rajai Davis and Brandon Guyer (if healthy) balancing out lefty-swingers Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin, and Bradley Zimmer, with Michael Brantley eventually joining the mix once he returns from the disabled list.

Once a well-regarded prospect in the Yankees’ system, Refsnyder has yet to produce much over parts of three MLB seasons, with just a .233/.306/.311 slash line over 320 career plate appearances.  He can offer a versatile glove capable of playing second base, first base, and both corner outfield slots, so he gives Tampa Bay another multi-position bench option next to Daniel Robertson.  The Rays had been looking for a right-handed outfield bat, so Refsnyder fills that need, even if he has yet to display much hitting stroke as a big leaguer.

Rosales was recently released from a minor league deal with the Phillies and it didn’t take him long to catch on elsewhere, as Cleveland will replace Refsnyder with a more experienced utility infielder.  Rosales has extensive work at all four infield spots (plus the odd appearance in left field) over his 10 seasons and 638 big league games.  This versatility has helped Rosales stick around in the Show despite a lack of hitting (.227/.292/.365 slash line over 1786 PA), though he did burst out for 13 homers and an .814 OPS over 248 PA with the Padres in 2016.

Pittsburgh placed Leathersich on waivers yesterday, as he may have been an expendable piece in a Pirates bullpen that already includes Steven Brault and Josh Smoker tossing from the left side, plus Kevin Siegrist in camp on a minor league deal.  Leathersich joined the Bucs via a waiver claim off the Cubs’ roster last September, appearing in six games wearing the black-and-gold.  The 27-year-old southpaw has a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 Major League innings, and both his brief MLB stint and his much more expansive sample size of 278 1/3 minor league IP exhibit indicate a penchant for racking up big totals in both the strikeout and walks departments.

Milbrath was also waived along with Leathersich yesterday, and as per the regulations of the Rule 5 Draft, the righty had to first be offered back to his original team (Cleveland) after other teams had passed on claiming the 26-year-old.  A 35th-round selection for the Tribe in the 2013 draft, Milbrath has a 4.33 ERA, 7.8 K/9, and 2.02 K/BB rate over 405 1/3 career innings in the minors, cracking the Double-A level in each of the last two seasons.

Pirates Place Jordan Milbrath, Jack Leathersich On Waivers

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The Pirates have placed right-hander Jordan Milbrath and lefty Jack Leathersich on waivers, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

As a Rule 5 draft pick, the Pirates will have to offer Milbrath back to his previous organization, the Indians, if no one claims him on waivers. If a team does claim the 26-year-old Milbrath, it must commit to carrying him on its 25-man roster. Otherwise, he’d head back to the waiver wire and would have to be offered to Cleveland upon clearing.

The side-arming Milbrath struggled in camp during his spring training stint as a member of the Pirates, with whom he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits and eight walks (with eight strikeouts) in 8 1/3 innings. He fared much better than that last year, which he divided between the Indians’ High-A and Triple-A affiliates, with a 3.02 ERA and 10.0 K/9 against 4.0 BB/9 in 56 2/3 innings.

Leatherich, 27, joined the Pirates last September after they claimed him from the division-rival Cubs. He then got into six of the Pirates’ games, working 4 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts against two walks. Overall, Leathersich has tossed 16 2/3 frames of five-run ball in the bigs since debuting with the Mets in 2015. However, he hasn’t been nearly that effective over a much larger sample of work at the Triple-A level, where he has offset a sky-high strikeout rate (14.5 per nine) with an ugly walk rate (6.9) en route to a 4.68 ERA in 100 innings.

Braves Return Rule 5 Pick Anyelo Gomez To Yankees

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The Braves have returned Rule 5 draft pick Anyelo Gomez to the Yankees, as announced by New York’s official Twitter feed.  The 25-year-old right-hander has been assigned to the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.  Atlanta had originally selected Gomez out of the Yankees’ farm system with the eighth overall pick of last December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Gomez owns a 3.24 ERA, 9.3 K/9, and 2.58 K/BB rate over 269 1/3 career innings in the minors.  Most of that experience is in the lower levels, though he impressed enough in 2017 to earn a promotion to Double-A (36 2/3 IP over 17 games) and even a brief two-inning cup of coffee at the Triple-A level.  Gomez started just one of his 38 games last season, and the move to the bullpen resulted in a 1.92 ERA in 70 1/3 innings across all levels.  With an abundance of strong arms in the minors, Gomez’s return only further reinforces the Yankees’ depth, though he is probably behind several other pitchers in terms of getting a big league promotion some time this season.

The Braves technically had two Rule 5 picks on their roster, as injury-plagued right-hander Dan Winkler’s Rule 5 status is still in effect despite missing much of the last three seasons due to injuries.  Winkler and the other intriguing arms in Atlanta’s system created a tough road for Gomez to find a spot on the 25-man roster, and he didn’t help his case with a rocky performance (10.80 ERA) over 8 1/3 Spring Training innings.

Spring Training Rule 5 Update

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There were 18 players selected in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft — which is to say that 18 players who were left off their organizations’ respective 40-man rosters were selected by a new team and given a chance to break camp on a 25-man roster.

Eligibility for the Rule 5 Draft is dependent on age and minor league service time, but the Rule 5 is generally an opportunity for potential big leaguers who aren’t in their clubs’ immediate plans to break through elsewhere, so long as they can remain on their new club’s roster/disabled list for the entire season — including at least 90 days of active roster time. (A player who falls shy of those 90 days of active service due to DL time retains his Rule 5 status in following seasons until he has accumulated 90 active days on the 25-man roster.) Rule 5 players cannot be optioned to the minors without first being passed through outright waivers and, if they clear, then offered back to their original club for $50K (half of the $100K cost of making a Rule 5 pick in the first place).

Here’s a look at the spring standing of the current slate of Rule 5 picks:

  • Victor Reyes, OF, Tigers (selected out of D-backs organization): The 23-year-old Reyes is hitting just .200/.243/.229 through 37 plate appearances after being selected with the No. 1 pick in this year’s Rule 5 Draft. Obviously that’s not the performance Detroit was hoping to receive, though that hasn’t ruled him out for a roster spot on a rebuilding club. Manager Ron Gardenhire recently called it a “really big” decision when chatting with the Detroit Free Press’ Anthony Fenech, who examines the decision at greater length in his column.
  • Julian Fernandez, RHP, Giants (from Rockies): The 22-year-old Fernandez has yet to pitch above A-ball since debuting as a 17-year-old back in 2013, and he’s been hammered for 10 runs on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings with the Giants this spring. It’s tough to see him sticking, even if he can top 102 mph with his heater (as Baseball America’s J.J. Cooper noted on Twitter at the time of the draft).
  • Nick Burdi, RHP, Pirates (from Twins via trade with Phillies): Burdi, recovering from Tommy John surgery, has yet to pitch this spring and will be on the disabled list to open the season.
  • Carlos Tocci, OF, Rangers (from Phillies, via trade with White Sox): Tocci has swiped six bags and reportedly shown good leatherwork in the outfield, making him a plausible reserve outfield candidate if the Rangers decide to prioritize those attributes in rounding out their bench. On the other hand, he’s struggling at the plate this spring and does not exactly have a lengthy track record of hitting in the upper minors.
  • Brad Keller, RHP, Royals (from D-backs, via trade with Reds): Though he managed only a 4.68 ERA at the Double-A level last year, Keller is being looked at as a reliever by a Kansas City organization that is in need of pitching depth. He has recorded seven strikeouts in six spring innings and seems to have a solid shot at taking a job.
  • Burch Smith, RHP, Royals (from Rays, via trade with Mets): Once a well-regarded prospect whose career was derailed by injury, Smith put up some interesting numbers in the Arizona Fall League (including 29 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings). He has been a bit wild this spring, handing out eight free passes in eight frames, but could join Keller in the K.C. pen.
  • Anyelo Gomez, RHP, Braves (from Yankees): Yet another interesting player in a Yankees system that is producing too much talent for the team’s 40-man roster, Gomez ran up the ladder in a strong 2017 season, briefly reaching Triple-A and ending with a cumulative output of 70 1/3 innings of 1.92 ERA pitching with 11.1 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He hasn’t dominated this spring, but the Braves obviously like his arm and have plenty of reason to try to hang onto him in a year in which they do not expect to compete for the postseason.
  • Nestor Cortes, LHP, Orioles (from Yankees): What’s that we were saying about the Yankees? Ah yes, another such player. The 23-year-old just ran up over a hundred innings of 2.06 ERA ball in the upper minors, with 9.0 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. He has held his own as a starter this spring, too. With the O’s in need of both lefty relievers and rotation depth, he seems to be on track for a job.
  • Jordan Milbrath, RHP, Pirates (from Indians): An intriguing side-arm reliever, Milbrath certainly came into camp with a shot at cracking the Pittsburgh pen. But it’s fair to wonder if that’s still possible now that he has struggled through six outings, coughing up eight earned runs on eight hits and seven walks in 5 1/3 innings.
  • Elieser Hernandez, RHP, Marlins (from Astros): The pitching-needy Marlins snagged Hernandez after he showed well at the High-A level and in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has impressed this spring with nine strikeouts and no walks over ten innings, so the Marlins have every reason to stash him in the bullpen.
  • Mike Ford, 1B, Mariners (from Yankees): An injury to Ryon Healy initially looked like it could help to open a door for Ford, but it’s a fairly short-term issue for Healy, and Ford is hitting just .150/.292/.325 through 48 PAs this spring. With Daniel Vogelbach on hand as another lefty swinging first base/designated hitter option, Ford could have a tough time sticking in Seattle.
  • Luke Bard, RHP, Angels (from Twins): Bard was shelled for five runs in one-third of an inning in one of his outing but has otherwise impressed the Halos this spring, as Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times recently wrote. Manager Mike Scioscia, in particular, sounded encouraged by Bard’s ability to throw multiple innings per outing. At present, he seems to have a decet chance of making the Angels’ roster.
  • Tyler Kinley, RHP, Twins (from Marlins): The hard-throwing Kinley has allowed just two runs in seven innings with the Twins, but while he’s whiffed seven hitters in that time he’s also walked five. The Twins signed three free-agent relievers this winter and are aiming to contend in 2018, making it tough to see Kinley sticking on the roster all season (or even breaking camp with the club).
  • Albert Suarez, RHP, D-backs (from Giants): Suarez has a 3.72 ERA with an 8-to-2 K/BB ratio in 10 2/3 innings for the D-backs this spring. His chances of landing a bullpen spot improved somewhat with an oblique injury to Randall Delgado. As Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic recently pointed out, because Suarez has been previously outrighted off the Giants’ 40-man roster, he would not need to be offered back to the Giants if he clears waivers and could instead elect free agency.
  • Anthony Gose, LHP, Astros (from Rangers): Gose was already placed on waivers by the Astros and returned to the Rangers after clearing.
  • Pedro Araujo, RHP, Orioles (from Cubs): The Baltimore organization certainly seems to be impressed with Araujo. He generated plenty of swings and misses in 2017 and has carried that over into camp, with seven Ks and just one walk in his five innings.
  • Brett Graves, RHP, Marlins (from A’s): Though he produced tepid results in his first effort at the Double-A level last year, Graves maintained a solid K/BB ratio and obviously caught the Marlins’ eye. But he has had a messy spring and is now slowed by an oblique strain, so the odds are against him going north with the MLB team.
  • Jose Mesa, RHP, Orioles (from Yankees): Indications are that Mesa is not quite keeping pace with his two fellow Rule 5 hurlers. Indeed, he has surrendered five walks and five earned runs in his 5 2/3 innings of Grapefruit League action.

Astros Return Rule 5 Pick Anthony Gose To Rangers

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The Rangers announced today that they received Rule 5 pick Anthony Gose back from the Astros and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock. He’ll join the Rangers in big league camp as a non-roster player. The Astros reportedly placed the left-hander/outfielder on outright waivers earlier this week.

Gose, a former big league outfielder, had been hoping to make a stacked Astros roster as a reliever. The former top outfield prospect converted to the mound last season after several years of difficulties at plate. Gose was a two-way star as an amateur but was drafted and developed solely as an outfielder. His arm strength from the outfield and his former pitching prowess have translated to the mound to an extent, as he’s reportedly been able to touch triple digits with his fastball.

Gose pitched 10 2/3 innings in Class-A Advanced in the Rangers organization last season and posted a 14-to-6 K/BB ratio in that time. It’s possible that the Rangers will continue to give him a look on the mound, though the team’s exact plans for him remain unclear. Rangers EVP of communications John Blake referenced Gose as an outfielder/left-handed pitcher in announcing the move, so perhaps he’ll continue to work on both elements of his game.

2017 Rule 5 Draft Results

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The Rule 5 draft begins at 9.a.m ET as this year’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida draw to a close. Those unfamiliar with how the draft works can check out MLBTR’s full primer on the event here, but the short version is that teams with open 40-man roster spots can select players with four to five years of pro experience from other organizations if said player hasn’t been protected on the 40-man roster. Players who signed at 18 years of age or younger but have five years of experience can be selected, as can players signed at 19 or older who have four years of experience. Each selection costs $100K, but it’s not mandatory for teams to make picks. Clubs must carry chosen players on their active rosters (or the major league disabled list) throughout the entire 2016 season. Doing otherwise would expose them to waivers, and they’d then be offered back to their original club. Teams can also work out trades with the original organization to keep the selected player in the organization but send him to the minors.

The Rule 5 order is based on the reverse order of last season’s standings. You can find Baseball America’s preview of the festivities right here. Here are this year’s results:

First Round

1. Tigers – Victor Reyes, OF, Diamondbacks

2. Giants – Julian Fernandez, RHP, Rockies

3. Phillies – Nick Burdi, RHP, Twins (traded to Pirates for international bonus space)

4. White Sox – Carlos Tocci, OF, Phillies (traded to Rangers for cash)

5. Reds – Brad Keller, RHP, Diamondbacks (traded to Royals for cash/PTBNL)

6. Mets – Burch Smith, RHP, Rays (traded to Royals for cash/PTBNL)

7. Padres – no selection

8. Braves – Anyelo Gomez, RHP, Yankees

9. Athletics – no selection

10. Orioles – Nestor Cortes, LHP, Yankees

11. Pirates – Jordan Milbrath, RHP, Indians

12. Blue Jays – no selection

13. Marlins – Elieser Hernandez, RHP, Astros

14. Mariners – Mike Ford, 1B, Yankees

15. Rangers – no selection

16. Rays – no selection

17. Angels – Luke Bard, RHP, Twins

18. Royals – no selection

19. Cardinals – no selection

20. Twins – Tyler Kinley, RHP, Marlins

21. Brewers – no selection

22. Rockies – no selection

23. Yankees – no selection

24. Cubs – no selection

25. Diamondbacks – Albert Suarez, RHP, Giants

26. Red Sox – no selection

27. Nationals – no selection

28. Astros – Anthony Gose, LHP, Rangers

29. Indians – no selection

30. Dodgers – no selection

Second & Third Round

Orioles select Pedro Araujo, RHP, Cubs

Marlins select Brett Graves, RHP, Athletics

Orioles select Jose Mesa, RHP, Yankees

Deadline To Set 40-Man Rosters For Rule 5 Draft Is Tonight

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The deadline for Major League teams to set their 40-man rosters in advance of next month’s Rule 5 Draft is tonight at 8pm ET. As such, baseball fans should expect to see a flurry of activity over the next 11 hours. There will be likely be players designated for assignment, outrighted and claimed off waivers in addition to multiple smaller-scale trades as teams make room on their own 40-man rosters and also pick up fringe 40-man candidates out of other organizations.

The Rule 5 Draft will take place on the final day of next month’s Winter Meetings (Dec. 14) and allow clubs with open space on the 40-man roster to select Rule 5-eligible players out of other organizations. Rule 5 eligibility is dependent on the age at which a player signed and that player’s experience.

A player that signed at 18 years of age or younger and has played five seasons of pro ball with his organization is Rule 5 eligible if he is not added to the 40-man roster today. Players that signed at 19 or older and have played four seasons are also eligible to be selected if they’re not added to the 40-man roster today. (In other words, college draftees out of the 2014 class, high school draftees out of the 2013 class and most international amateurs signed in the 2013-14 international period are eligible this year if not protected.)

Readers looking for the most obvious candidates to be added can reference this excellent piece from Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. As Mayo notes, there were seven players on MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects list that needed to be added as of this morning: Gleyber Torres (Yankees), Eloy Jimenez (White Sox), Brent Honeywell (Rays), Austin Meadows (Pirates), Stephen Gonsalves (Twins), Jake Bauers (Rays) and Tyler O’Neill (Cardinals). Clearly, all seven of those players will be added to the 40-man roster today.

Mayo also provides a team-by-team rundown of the players from each club’s organizational top 30 prospect rankings that must be protected by tonight’s deadline or else exposed to Rule 5 eligibility, and MLBTR’s Jason Martinez has provided a team-by-team list of some notable players that are Rule 5-eligible as well.

Here’s a quick team-by-team look at the number of open 40-man spaces each team presently has to work with as of this morning:

American League West

American League Central

American League East

National League West

National League Central

National League East

Show all

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