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Every year, the MLB Rule 5 Draft brings a conclusion to the winter meetings, and often, the Yankees lose a couple of prospects to other clubs. This year was no exception, as the Yankees saw a handful of interesting talents selected by their rivals.
As a refresher, players who signed at age 18 or earlier and haven’t been added to their team’s 40-man roster within five years are vulnerable in the Rule 5 Draft, while players who signed at age 19 or later must be added to the 40-man within four years to be protected. Teams like the Yankees, who hold a fairly deep farm system but also a packed 40-man roster, are prime targets to lose prospects in the Rule 5. The catch, of course, is that any player selected in the draft must remain on the selecting team’s active roster all season, or else be returned to the original club.