Potential “Rule 5 Kids”
Yesterday was the deadline for teams to add players to their 40-man roster to protect them from being exposed to the Rule 5 draft that will take place on Dec. 7 at the Winter Meetings. We mentioned earlier who the Mariners added, but here are some players that other teams left exposed that could warrant a selection. Like the amateur (Rule 4) draft in June, the Mariners will have the second selection for the Rule 5. Confused by all of this? Here’s a Rule 5 primer.
Edited (twice) to remove players that aren’t actually available…
The “Too Good To Be True” Group was, in fact, too good to be true. J at Mariners Minors is the man.
Legitimate Prospects
Donald Veal — LHP — Cubs
The Cubs drafted Veal out of Pima (Ariz.) Community College in the second round of the 2005 draft. With an above-average fastball and a good curve, Veal breezed through his first four levels and ranked as BA’s No. 2 prospect after the 2006 season. In 2007, the Cubs sent Veal to Double A Tennessee, where he struggled for the first time as a professional, slipping to sixth on the Cubs’ prospect list last winter. He repeated the level this year as a 23-year-old, but actually took a little step back. On the bright side, he struck out 123 batters over 145.1 innings, but on the other hand he also walked 81. The walks are a real concern, but there’s enough to like that a team will certainly take a chance on his upside.
Jordan Brown — 1B — Indians
Brown was a fourth-round selection out of the University of Arizona in 2005. He destroyed Double A pitching last year, hitting .333/.421/.484 over 483 at-bats for the Akron Aeros, earning the No. 7 position on BA’s Indians prospect list. This year, Brown was assigned to Triple A Buffalo and his numbers, while not horrible, came back down to Earth a bit. Over 420 at-bats, the stocky lefty hit .281/.337/.417. More of a gap hitter, he had 30 doubles and seven home runs on the season. Brown was playing winter ball in the Dominican before a foot injury ended his season.
Backstops
Not that the Mariners are in any real need, but there are a few interesting catchers available…
James Skelton — C — Tigers
Listed at just 165 pounds, Skelton is small for a catcher. It’s surprising that the Tigers left him exposed, especially when you consider the numbers he put up and the other catchers in their system. At 22-years-old, Skelton reached Double A this year and over his career, he’s a .292/.416/.400 hitter. That’s going to draw some interest.
Bobby Wilson — C — Angels
This is a weird one. Anyone know what happened to this guy? He hit well this year and even got a cup of coffee, but now he’s no longer on the Angels’ roster and I can’t find a transaction to explain what happened to him. He hit .312/.381/.435 last year in Salt Lake, so if he is indeed available, he could certainly be a useful backup.
Bench Players and Bullpen Arms
Brad Coon — OF — Angels
Coon is a left-handed hitter that put up a .306/.406/.380 line this season over 337 at-bats in Salt Lake and the numbers aren’t too far off of his career percentages. He can play center field and has 147 stolen bases over his minor-league career, making him an ideal fourth outfielder.
Jeremy Slayden — OF — Phillies
Slayden was the Phillies’ eight-round pick in 2005 out of Georgia Tech. While he’s always been old for his level, he’s been consistently impressive, posting a career line of .294/.377/.480
Bubba Bell — OF — Red Sox
Bell is another fourth-outfielder type. He’s already 25 and has only gotten to Double A, but his .309/.388/.497 career line is impressive.
Eduardo Morlan — RHP — Rays
Morlan was one of the six players exchanged in the Delmon Young for Matt Garza swap last winter. He has a big-time fastball and slider and it’s surprising he wasn’t protected. His strikeout rate wasn’t jaw-dropping like it had been in the lower levels, but he struck out nearly a batter an inning as a 22-year-old in Double A. Every team could find a spot in their bullpen for an arm like Morlan’s.
Other players that could draw some interest include: Brad Kilby, Kala Ka’aihue, Chuck Lofgren, Oneli Perez & Kevin Whelan.
I’m fairly certain that Rule 5 eligibility is based on actual seasons played. Usually Latin American players don’t begin their playing careers until the year after they sign. So, the guys signed in 2004 didn’t start their careers until 2005, meaning they won’t need to be protected until after next season. I think that eliminates Ceda, Chacin, and Parra.
Veal makes a lot of sense, especially since our bullpen needs some lefty support.
Nope, Halman’s addition to the 40-man proves that it isn’t.
In his case, he didn’t start playing until 2005, but he signed a 2004 contract because the M’s wanted him in instructs the same year, probably to bypass any summer leagues transition. Most Latin American and international players, when signed, will get a contract for the following year, but not all of them do. You pretty much need a stack of media guides in order to figure who is eligible and who isn’t. The M’s make theirs available online, which is great, but most teams don’t.
Speaking of too good to be true, I thought that said Kila Kai’aihue at the bottom. I almost jumped out of my skin!
Kala is pretty interesting too, though.
Ah yes — that makes a lot of sense. Thanks, J! That removes Ceda and Chacin, who signed contracts in September and November of 2004 and probably Parra (although I couldn’t find a signing date on him, I have to assume that the DBacks are smarter than that…)
Media Guides for all teams are available here: http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/media_guides/index.jsp
Pedro Viola’s been playing in the AFL, and Kala Ka’aihue’s been back at home in the Hawaiian Winter League (and he posted a blog here). Lofgren’s in the AFL too, and while winter league stats don’t matter, I think it’s noteworthy that Chuck’s allowed 40 runs in a mere 7 IP. Yeah, that’s a strand rate of about -5%, but still… something’s not right there (3:1 BB:K ratio).
Loek Van Mil is intriguing to me because I’m pretty sure he’s the tallest ballplayer in history at 7’1″. He *should* get some downward motion on his fb and be a decent relief option, but it’s looking like he may not put it together. Still, it’d be great to send him and Jeroen de Haas to the instructs and turn them both into prospects.
I think the mods would kill themselves if Zduriencik and Wakamatsu added Ka’aihue.
I’m pretty sure Loek Van Mil is out for 2009 after being forced to undergo Tommy John surgery preparing for the Olympics this summer. How does that affect his Rule 5 Draft eligibility?
btw, my first post ever at USS Mariner. Longtime reader. I enjoy all the content immensely. Keep up the great work!
Is Alan Horne worth a look at all?
Thanks for the comment, awhkang…good to know. I think that probably rules him out.
No, he’s hurt too.
Parra was signed 08-30-2004.
Pedro Viola is not eligible for the draft since he signed after the [RULE 5!!] draft of the year that he signed. If he were eligible he most certainly would have been protected.
Thanks Andrew & Doug!
Is Jesus Guzman worthy of a second round rule 5 pick?
Guzman can hit, but he’s actually a minor league free agent. Rumor is that the Giants are looking at him.