The deadline for MLB teams to add players to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the upcoming Rule 5 draft is Wednesday. The draft will take place on Dec. 12 at the annual Winter Meetings.
Deadline to protect players from Rule 5 draft is Wednesday
To protect a player from the Rule 5 draft, team’s must put them on their 40-man roster by the deadline.
Mike Stobe
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Minor league players eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft are those not on the 40-man who have had a certain amount of time pass since being signed. For those who were 18 or younger on the June 5 prior to their signing, they may be selected in the fifth Rule 5 draft following their originally being signed. Those who were 19 or older when signed can be selected in the fourth Rule 5 draft after their signing.
If a team selects a player in the draft, he is automatically added to the 40-man roster and must be on the major league roster for all of the upcoming regular season. Each selection also costs $50,000. If a player does not remain on the major league roster, he must be offered back to his original team for half the cost of drafting him. A trade can also be worked out.
There have been 30 Rule 5 selections that have gone on to be All-Stars later in their careers, including Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente, Johan Santana, Josh Hamilton, George Bell, Jose Bautista, and R.A. Dickey.
Many teams are facing tough decisions as to what players they will add to the roster. Clubs have to remain wary as most only have a few openings and will likely want to save room for possible free agent signings or trade acquisitions.
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