NEWSLETTER
Baseball’s most niche event, the Rule 5 Draft, is taking place at 1 pm today. Well, kinda. The lockout is making things even more niche, as MLB is indefinitely delaying the more impactful Major League portion until after the Collective Bargaining Agreement is completed. If it happens at all. So what we’re left with is the minor league phase, which I’ll live-blog below, after we briefly introduce what the heck this thing is.
The minor league phase of the Rule 5, very simply put, is an opportunity for players undervalued by their current organization to be given a change of scenery. Unlike the Major League phase, where the player must remain on the active roster for the entire season or be returned, there are no future roster requirements for drafted players. Those selected today are members of a new organization.
For brief history reminder, Cubs gained two and lost two pitchers in the 2020 minor league Rule 5, and they gained four and lost two in 2019.
So who is eligible? I’ll send you to Arizona Phil for an explanation on who is eligible for the Rule 5, but for the minor league phase, it’s Rule 5 eligible players who aren’t on either the 40-man roster OR the 38-man Triple-A roster. This should leave the Cubs with something in the neighborhood of 40-50 eligible draftees. Phil also has deep in that post his projection of who the Cubs might have protected (I’ll say Peyton Remy probably jumps out as a potential guy to be drafted away from the org, if that highlights for you the player type we’re talking about today.)
The fine folks at Baseball America have a list of best players available for us. I think Brett also makes a good point here, that the Cubs’ influx of new front office faces from different organizations gives the Cubs some inside knowledge on members of the Guardians, Rays, and Yankees organizations. And when you cross-reference it with BA’s list, there’s a decent amount of overlap. As for me, I’m thinking about positions in the organization where a little increased depth would be helpful.
Re today's minor league Rule 5 Draft. Cubs always look for interesting pitchers (and have recent connects to other org farms in Hawkins & Moskos), but also have the org farm connect to Rays on hitting side (Brown).
And, yes, they need catchers like whoa. https://t.co/03kgsrBrwn
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 8, 2021
I’ll be live-blogging this thing as Cubs-related picks roll in, both with players coming in and going out. Expect a few.
* * *
I’m here, and now realizing the introduction didn’t have this bit of important information: the Cubs will pick seventh in each round. Teams do have the right to pass on their selection, and the draft goes until all 30 teams are finished making selections.
You can, if you’re crazy, follow the draft with these links:
The Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft starts now.
Live audio: https://t.co/Nua0curdcZ
All picks here: https://t.co/b7PcjXgvjv pic.twitter.com/hhotBuMLh2— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 8, 2021
The Cubs are announced as having 34 players on their Triple-A reserve roster, meaning they have the flexibility to add up to four players in the draft.
We’re underway.
Let’s finish things up with a look at my projection for the Cubs organizational depth chart, as it stands right now.
Updated organizational chart projection after the Cubs add one and lose in the Rule 5 Draft. pic.twitter.com/c0iXlGrRzS
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) December 8, 2021
