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LOS ANGELES, CA—In a normal Major League Baseball offseason, not much happens during the first few weeks, aside from a few player/club option decisions and which players accept/decline the qualifying offer.
However, this winter will be very different, especially with the upcoming lockout, as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire on December 1st.
Still, both sides have to plan for business as usual, and one thing that may change is the December Rule 5 Draft, which teams like the Dodgers, with limited 40-man roster space, will need to consider when deciding which eligible top prospects to protect.
While a potential Rule 5 Draft likely won’t happen until a new CBA is ratified, the Dodgers will still need to protect eligible players before the November 17th deadline to lock in their rosters.
As it stands right now, the Dodgers have 37 players on their 40-man roster, leaving just three open spots to protect top prospects in their minor league system. So who’s eligible and worth protecting this winter?
Here are five Dodgers minor leaguers with the best chance of earning a 40-man roster spot before the Rule 5 Draft, ranked by how likely they are to be protected.
Christian Zazueta
Acquired from the New York Yankees in the Caleb Ferguson trade, right-hander Christian Zazueta has quickly developed into one of the Dodgers’ most intriguing pitching prospects. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the organization’s best young arms, even earning recognition as its top pitching prospect.
Zazueta made his Double-A debut in June, so he might still be a little ways away from making his major league debut. However, that shouldn’t stop the Dodgers from protecting him. Given his upside and the investment they’ve made in his development, the organization likely won’t risk losing him in the Rule 5 Draft.
Jackson Ferris
Left-hander Jackson Ferris is another interesting case, especially after showing signs of a late-season turnaround in 2026.
Ferris finished the regular season with a 1.00 ERA over his final six appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City, a significant improvement from the 7.15 ERA he posted across his previous 18 games. If that late-season stretch better reflects what Ferris can become in 2027, the Dodgers would be wise to give him a 40-man roster spot before another organization gets the chance to take a chance on him.
Jake Gelof
Jake Gelof certainly made a case for himself in 2026. After representing Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, the infielder returned to the Dodgers’ farm system and launched 34 home runs for Double-A Tulsa during the regular season.
His defensive versatility is another plus: Gelof primarily plays corner infield but can also handle second base. While corner infielders aren’t necessarily the most common Rule 5 Draft targets, his power production could make him an appealing option for a team looking to add pop to its organizational depth.
Noah Miller
Unlike Gelof, Noah Miller makes his living with the glove. The 23-year-old is a defense-first shortstop who posted a .254/.319/.400 slash line at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2026.
His defense gives him an intriguing profile, but the question remains whether his bat is ready for major league pitching. That could make him a tougher sell for another team considering a Rule 5 selection, although his age and defensive upside could be enough to generate interest.
Miller might be a borderline case for the Dodgers, but he’s worth watching as the organization evaluates its 40-man roster heading into the offseason.
Adam Serwinowski
A 15th-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, left-hander Adam Serwinowski has yet to put everything together statistically, posting a 5.31 ERA across 26 starts with Double-A Tulsa in 2026.
Still, the 22-year-old has time on his side, and the Dodgers might not be ready to move him out of the starting rotation just yet. That could make him an interesting Rule 5 Draft candidate for another organization willing to bet on his upside, giving Los Angeles another reason to consider protecting him this winter.
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Cody Snavely has been the co-editor of DodgersBeat and full-time host of the Bleed Los Podcast since February 2023. He has also written for multiple websites, such as Dodgers Way, Dodgers Low-Down, and Dodgers Tailgate. A Wilmington University graduate, Snavely is an avid Dodgers fan who uses his advanced baseball knowledge to keep fans updated on the latest storylines, rumors, and opinions on Dodgers baseball.
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