The Rule 5 and the 40-man

by jscape2000 on Nov 13, 2009 1:00 PM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

The Rule 5 draft is one of the odd events in baseball, a chance for rebuilding teams to steal a talented gamble from a prospect rich team. You have to keep a draftee on the 25 man roster for the entire season, or offer to sell him back to his original club (as happened to Reegie Corona last season).

It's a testament to the job Cashman has done rebuilding the franchise that the Yankees lost 6 players in the Rule 5 last season, including 5 pitchers, and still had the arms to play an effective musical chairs in the bullpen.

Chad Jennings breaks down the (relatively) high profile Rule 5 eligible players:

Pitchers: J.B. Cox, Grant Duff, Alan Horne, Zack Kroenke, Ivan Nova, Jonathan Ortiz, Romulo Sanchez, Josh Schmidt, Brett Smith, Kevin Whelan, Eric Wordekemper, Jonathan Hovis, George Kontos, Paul Patterson, Kanekoa Texeira
Catchers: Kyle Anson, P.J. Pilittere
Infielders: Reegie Corona, Chris Malec, Mitch Hilligoss, Eduardo Nunez, Luis Nunez, Kevin Russo, Kevin Smith
Outfielders: James Cooper, Colin Curtis, Seth Fortenberry, Austin Jackson

The no doubters are AJax (OF), Luis Nunez (SS), Kevin Russo (2B) and Kanekoa Texeira (the pitcher thrown into the Swisher deal to prove Cashman's brilliance).

Like Chad, I think the Yanks need to protect Sanchez, Nova, Horne, and Whelan, all of whom still have big upsides. I'm indifferent to the position players except Reegie Corona, but there are probably too many middle infielders on the 40 man already.

I also think protecting Colin Curtis is worth while. He is raking as a LF in the Arizona Fall League (which is a hitters' league, so don't get too excited), and I think that exposure will move him up the board of some teams.

Remember that you don't want to fill the 40-man, because then you have to pass your prospects through waivers when you sign free agents like Pettitte, Matsui or Damon.

Who would you protect and how?

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Comments

One way to reduce the problem

Is a Swisher like trade. In short bundlr a number of these people and try to swap for someone who has the potential to help at the major league level.

I look for that to happen.

"You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth." Mickey

by Cbeck3 on Nov 13, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions

Good point.
Turning a couple talented but (for the Yankees) undervalued players into a reliever, starter or outfielder would be fine by me.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 13, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

This blog rocks!

Never a dull moment out here I say, Thought I’d be mid withdrawals right now after the season ended as planned. Nope, all kinds of goodies here. In fact, right now, I’d say there’s more content to digest than during the season.

Thank you.

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Nov 13, 2009 2:59 PM EST reply actions

Fire Girardi

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Nov 13, 2009 3:22 PM EST reply actions

one thing

One thing to remember is that you only need to protect a player if you suspect he can stay with an entire team. Luis Nunez is an org guy, so he won’t be protected. I assume you mean you would like to protect Eduardo, but I’m not sure he needs to be protected. Some are big fans of his, but his defense would prevent him from sticking with another team.

Colin Curtis doesn’t really have much upside so I doubt he’ll be protected. I’d see guys like Russo, Jackson, Romulo, Duff, and Nova. I don’t think any of the other guys have much of a chance to stick.

-Greg F.
http://pendingpinstripes.net

by gfertel on Nov 13, 2009 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Fair points

If they only protected those 5 I wouldn’t complain much.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 14, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

Kroenke

I haven’t heard any bad things about him… Maybe he’s worth keeping, I have a gut feeling that he could end up being a Dave Robertson-type of guy in the future

"To the second baseman Cano, THE YANKEES ARE BACK ON TOP!!! WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR THE 27TH TIME!"

-Joe Buck. 11/4/2009

by nck228 on Nov 13, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions

Difference

David Robertson had rave reviews and absurd numbers in the minors. Kroenke is a lefty with fringy stff. If he was a RHP, there would be zero discussion about him. With Marte, Coke, Dunn, Wilkins de la Rosa on the 40 man, I don’t see Kroenke being protected

Greg F.
http://pendingpinstripes.net

by gfertel on Nov 13, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions