The Rule-5 Draft is Wednesday afternoon at 2pm in Orlando at the 2025 Winter Meetings. The list is very long of eligible Rule-5 players including several first round draft picks from the college ranks of the 2022 draft. While there is little chance of the Washington Nationals losing players like Trey Lipscomb or Tyler Stuart, there is a good chance that Paul Toboni, President of Baseball Operations, will choose at least one player in the Rule-5 Draft. The Nats pick third in this draft.

The following is the Top-75 players assembled by Baseball America (subscription required):

With the Nats picking near the top and at No. 3 overall, they will get to pick after Colorado and the Chicago White Sox. Of course there was Blaze Jordan and Daniel Susac buzz for the Nationals. Things have most likely changed when the Nationals traded for catcher Harry Ford. Many evaluators think the Nationals will pick a pitcher to put in the bullpen.

Lesser known Rule-5 names available are RHP Blake Burkhalter of the Braves, and RHP Harrison Cohen of the Yankees. Both could fit in as relievers. And the Nats could also look at a starter and put that player in the bullpen.

Of course most Rule-5 picks fail miserably — and look no further than the Nats taking RHP Thaddeus Ward and RHP Evan Reifert. By the way, Reifert is Rule-5 eligible again this time around too. The Nats did get Nasim Nunez in the Rule-5 draft so they are kind of 1-for-3.

Of course last year the White Sox snagged Shane Smith in the Rule-5 draft at No. 1 overall, and he was named an All-Star in that rookie season putting up 29 starts with a 3.81 ERA and finishing 10th in ROY voting. And the White Sox fired their pitching coach, Ethan Katz, after the season. Go figure.

Since 2012, seven Rule 5 selections have gone on to amass 5.0 or more career bWAR: Mark Canha (14.6), Odúbel Herrera (13.3), Brad Keller (10.3), Anthony Santander (10.3), Ryan Pressly (9.5), Garrett Whitlock (8.2) and Delino DeShields (5.1).

By the way, the Nats protected three players from being Rule-5 eligible, and they were LHP Jake Bennett,  RHP Riley Cornelio, and OF Christian Franklin. There are strict rules that go into a player’s eligibility for the Rule-5 Draft.

To be eligible for the MLB Rule-5 Draft, a player must be unprotected on their current team’s 40-man roster and have spent enough time in the system: four seasons if signed at 19+, or five seasons if signed at 18 or younger; the crucial part is they must be added to the 40-man roster by the deadline, or they become available for any other team to draft for $100,000 and must stay on the selecting team’s MLB roster all season or be offered back. 

Eligibility Rules (When a Player Becomes Eligible):

Signed at 19 or Older: Eligible after four professional seasons.

Signed at 18 or Younger: Eligible after five professional seasons (as of the June 5th before signing). 

Key Requirements for Selection:

Not on 40-Man: The player must not be on the current organization’s 40-man roster.

Time in System: They must have reached the time threshold (4 or 5 seasons) without being protected. 

Rules for the Selecting Team:

Cost: Pay $100,000 to the original team.

Roster Spot: Must keep the player on their active 26-man MLB roster for the entire upcoming season, or an IL move for legitimate injuries; however, to satisfy the year-long requirement and avoid roster restrictions (like being offered back to their old team), they must accrue at least 90 days of active time on the big league roster, counting any time spent on the injured list. 

Waivers: If the selecting team removes the player (options to minors, designates for assignment, etc.), they must first offer the player back to the original team for $50,000. 

There is also a Minor League phase of the Rule-5 Draft. Anyone not protected on a big league or Triple-A roster is eligible, with the cost of selection $24,000. Players selected in this phase of the Rule-5 Draft aren’t subject to any roster restrictions with their new organizations.

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