MLB’s annual Winter Meetings conclude each year with the Rule 5 Draft, giving clubs an opportunity to take a chance on a player from another organization who doesn’t appear to fit into the team’s immediate plans. Making a pick in the Rule 5 Draft entails assuming a fair amount of risk for teams. Players selected must be kept on a team’s major league roster for the entire upcoming season, otherwise they must be offered back to their original team. Most eligible options for the Rule 5 Draft are players who don’t immediately figure into most teams’ plans, be it from a lack of production in the minor leagues or from questions about whether they are ready for the major leagues.
Many of those selected will end up back with their original clubs, some before the end of Spring Training.
Teams make selections – if they want – based on the reverse order of the previous season’s standings.
The results from this year’s Rule 5 Draft:
- Diamondbacks: Oscar Hernandez from Tampa Bay
- Rockies: Mark Canha from Miami (later traded to the A’s)
- Rangers: Delino DeShields Jr. from Houston
- Astros: Jason Garcia from Boston
- Twins: J.R. Graham from Atlanta
- Red Sox: Jandel Gustave from Houston (later traded to the Royals)
- White Sox: No selection
- Cubs: Taylor Featherston from Colorado (later traded to the Angels)
- Phillies: Odubel Herrera from Texas
- Reds: No selection
- Marlins: Andrew McKirahan from Chicago
- Padres: No selection
- Rays: No selection
- Mets: Sean Gilmartin from Minnesota
- Braves: Daniel Winkler from Colorado
- Brewers: No selection
- Blue Jays: No selection
- Yankees: No selection
- Indians: No selection
- Mariners: David Rollins from Houston
- Giants: No selection
- Pirates: No selection
- A’s: No selection
- Royals: No selection
- Tigers: No selection
- Cardinals: No selection
- Dodgers: No selection
- Orioles: Logan Verrett from New York
- Nationals: No selection
- Angels: No selection