Looking Ahead To The Rule 5 Draft

On Dec. 7, 2008, Major League Baseball will begin the Rule 5 Draft which takes place every year at the Winter Meetings. As a creative feature in player development, the Rule 5 Draft serves as a method to help prevent teams to stockpile on minor league talent. Teams must protect players on their 40-man rosters within three or four years of their original signing. Those left unprotected are available to other teams as Rule 5 picks. Depending on the player's age, High School players drafted in 2004 and college players drafted in 2005 will be eligible for the first time this year. To add a Rule 5 pick, teams must pay $50,000 and must keep that player on the active Major League roster for an entire season. If not, they must offer the player back to his original organization at half the price. The draft order is determined by record, worst team record selecting first. The most recent Rule 5 pick to burst onto the scene is, Josh Hamilton. The former first-round pick by the Rays in 1999 was left ... (link)