December 10, 2020
The 2020 Rule 5 Draft was conducted via conference call on Thursday, with 18 players selected during the Major League phase. Pre-draft chatter was focused on whether more young, inexperienced players would be picked this year due to an anticipation of expanded rosters, and a few picks appeared to be made with that in mind. Here are my thoughts on all those selected, as well as some on thlaose picked during the Minor League phase. Remember you can venture over to The Board for more info on several of these players.
But first, my annual refresher on the Rule 5 Draft’s complex rules. Players who signed their first pro contract at age 18 or younger are eligible for selection after five years of minor-league service if their parent club has not yet added them to the team’s 40-man roster. For players who signed at age 19 or older, the timeline is four years. Teams with the worst win/loss record from the previous season pick first, and those that select a player must
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The Orioles concluded the 2020 virtual Winter Meetings by adding two intriguing right-handed pitching prospects and losing two others during the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. Baltimore selected Mac Sceroler from the Reds and Tyler Wells from the Twins, while losing Zach Pop to the D-backs and Gray Fenter to the Cubs.
As Rule 5 Draft selections, Sceroler and Wells must remain on the Orioles active roster for the entire 2021 season, or else be offered back to their respective clubs for $50,000. The selections each came with an initial cost of $100,000 for Baltimore. Sceroler and Wells will report to Spring Training with the chance to win big league jobs, likely as bullpen depth.
First, there were the picks. Next comes figuring out who sticks. On Thursday, 18 players were selected in the Major League phase of the annual Rule 5 Draft. With their selections, each of the 18 took another step toward their goal of playing in The Show (or in one case,
Soriano taken by Pirates from Angels in winter meeting draft
December 10, 2020 GMT
NEW YORK (AP) Pittsburgh took right-hander Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels’ organization with the first of 18 picks in the major league phase of Thursday’s winter meeting draft of players not protected on 40-man rosters.
Soriano, 22, was 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts for the Arizona Rookie League Angels in 2019 and 5-6 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 starts and two relief appearances for Burlington of the Class A Midwest League. He missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
A team pays $100,000 to the club it selects a player from but must keep him on its active roster for all of next season or put him on waivers. Then, if he clears, he must be offered back to the previous club for $50,000. The selecting team also can place the player on the major league injured list.
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With a lack of a 2020 Minor League season, or even an Arizona Fall League, the general feeling ahead of Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft was the annual event that typically ends with the Winter Meetings would be relatively quiet.
Turns out, that feeling was wrong.
A total of 18 players were taken in the Major League phase, tying the 2016 and ‘17 Drafts for the most selections since 19 were taken back in 2010. The Minor League phase was extremely active, with 56 players taken. The total of 74 players selected was the most since 79 picks were made in the 2004 Rule 5 Draft. A total of 15 of the 18 players taken in the Major League phase were right-handed pitchers, while two outfielders and a shortstop were also selected.