Future Redbirds

The rule 5 draft is right around the corner, December 6 to be exact. The rules are pretty simple, here they come all bullet pointy to make them easier on the eyes-

• As in the amateur draft, the selection order of the teams is based on each team’s win-loss record from the prior regular season, each round starting with the team with the worst record and proceeding in order to the team with the best record.
• Any player selected under Rule 5 is immediately added to his new team’s 40-man roster. Teams who do not have an available roster spot may not participate in the Rule 5 draft.
• If chosen in the Rule 5 draft, a player must be kept on the selecting team’s 25-man major league roster for the entire season after the draft–he may not be optioned or designated to the minors.
• The selecting team may, at any time, waive the Rule 5 draftee. If a Rule 5 draftee clears waivers by not signing with a new MLB team, he must be offered back to the original team, effectively canceling the Rule 5 draft choice. Once a Rule 5 draftee spends an entire season on his new team’s 25-man roster, his status reverts to normal and he may be optioned or designated for assignment.
• Each draftee costs $50,000. If the draftee does not stay on the drafting team’s 25-man (major league) roster all season, the player must be offered back to his original team at half-price.
• Who’s eligible? Players signed at age 19 or older are exempt from the Rule 5 draft for four years after being drafted (in the amateur draft) or signed by their current organization; players drafted or signed at age 18 or younger are exempt for five years. For example, players drafted in 2004 (or later) at age 19 (or older) will be exempt from the 2007 Rule 5 draft, as will players drafted in 2003 (or later) at age 18 (or younger).

Does all that make sense? Well, if not, then fault the wiki entry because I cut and pasted the highlights without shame!

Most of you I’m sure remember Hector Luna. He was a rule 5 draft pick. He made the jump from AA and struggled in his first season as one would expect a AA hitter to struggle with fewer at bats against major league pitching, but he later blossomed into a useful utility man. After a full season with St. Louis, he was able to be optioned to AAA again without having to clear waivers, and was.

Then there is also Tyler Johnson. I’m not sure why the Cardinals didn’t protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but he was picked up by the A’s. He didn’t make the team out of spring training and was returned to the Cardinals, thankfully.

Juan Mateo of the Cubs was the last Rule 5 draftee the Cardinals took in the major league portion, and he was returned when he didn’t make the club after being held up by visa issues and having several other grizzled vets ahead of him in LaRuncan’s pecking order.

As it stands right now, the Cardinals 40 man roster is full, but it’s possible they release So Taguchi, Kelvin Jimenez, or John Rodriguez before Dec. 6 in order to go into the draft ready. (Please not Rodriguez!) The Cardinals don’t look to stand to have any losses in the Rule 5. They protected Joe Mather, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Jason Motte, Cody Haerther, Kyle McClellan, Mark Worrell and Mike Parisi. The most attractive players of the Cardinals that are available are Stuart Pomeranz, Mike Sillman, and Eric Haberer. Pomeranz and Sillman spent most of their 2007 season on the DL, and Haberer had as many strikeouts as walks in his second season of AA. (72) He did however hold lefties to .202 average, so if a team is looking for a cheap lefty reliever, they may have their man in Haberer.

So who could be available for the Cards in the Rule 5?

• The biggest fish is 22 year old OF Chris Lubanski of the Royals. BA ranked him the #4 prospect in the Royals system going into last season. Lubanski is Colby Rasmus’s #1 PECOTA comp, he hits for average, power, walks and has speed. He’s not the cleanest fielder and is extremely streaky. I don’t think he’ll be available when the Cardinals have their choice, but if they grab him he’d be a top 5 prospect in the system right now. He needs at bats, I kind of worry what making him a part time player would do to him. I have no idea what the Royals are thinking here.
• 25 year old righty reliever Carlos Guevara of the Reds is another interesting name available. His numbers are downright tasty, he has a 3.67 K/BB ratio, and has struck out 384 batters in 297.7 IP while allowing just 252 hits. He’s like the P.J. Walters of relievers; he doesn’t throw hard, 86-89 tops, but throws a rare screwball. The screwball has helped him kill lefties the past three seasons, he could be a very effective situational reliever.
• Fernando Hernandez of the ChiSox is another right handed reliever who has been unheralded. I couldn’t even find much about him other then he throws a 95-96 MPH fastball. He is only 23 but has five seasons in the minors, and has racked up 300 K’s in 293.3 IP and had a 2.87 FIP last season.
• Dan Smith is another player of interest. He’s a left hander who is a reliever turned starter recently in Atlanta’s system. This past season, he made 9 starts for AA Mississippi and posted a nifty 3.18 FIP. He moved up to AAA and didn’t fair as well, with 39 K’s, 39 walks and 35 runs allowed in 58 IP. A fly ball pitcher, he may not be a fit.
• Not that the Cardinals need another super utility infielder, but they may want to consider Jonathan Ash of the Astros. He can play all over the infield, and has a career .378 OBP. He’s an extreme contact hitter, striking out in just 7% of his at bats over his minor league career. He has an average glove and good speed, though he hasn’t learned to use it to his advantage, at least when it comes to steals.

These are just a handful of players available, I’m sure I’m overlooking quite a bunch of talent. BA will have it’s list of the cream of the crop available later, as I’m sure will others, so I may have thought or two to add when the time comes. Do you know of an interesting name or two?