By David Rubin
A few days ago, on the heals of the recent Rule 5 draft, the MLB Network aired a "Prime 9" special, listing their "top 9 Rule 5 Draft Picks"...and quite an interesting list it is!!
9.) Bobby Bonilla: White Sox to Bucs
8.) Shane Victorino: Dodgers to Phils
7.) Dan Uggla: D-Backs to Marlins
6.) Josh Hamilton: Rays to Cubs (then immediately to Reds)
5.) Willie Hernandez: Phils to Cubs (then to Tigers)
4.) Darrell Evans: A's to Braves
3.) George Bell: Phils to Jays
2.) Johan Santana: Astros to Marlins (then immediately to Twins)
1.) Roberto Clemente: Dodgers to Bucs
Not a bad list!! One hall-of-famer (Clemente), one really great player (Evans), 2 potential hall-of-famers (Santana & Hamilton, if things go very right for both of them) and some excellent supporting players.
Some names to be added to this list, that the special didn't have space to add: Joakim Soria, Paul Blair (from the Mets), Jody Davis, Dave Hollins, Jeff Nelson, Bip Roberts & last year's home run leader, Jose Bautista!! Also not a bad list!! But all told, that's still only 16 players, out of hundreds of players who've been drafted over the years via this process.
Of course, there are a number of other players who have made an impact as a result of being plucked via this method, but overall the success rate isn't exactly reassuring. So why would anyone make a big deal about the draft? Well, when you are attempting to utilize every avenue available to you, and you're able to acquire a few potential roster additions for the small price of $50,000 each, it's certainly a worthwhile gamble!!
Although I'd be (pleasantly) surprised to see Brad Emaus make the team out of Spring Training, I'd bet that Sandy & company could probably come to an agreement with the Jays to keep him in exchange for something/someone else, should they feel he may be useful to the team down the road. Pedro Beato probably has a better chance of sticking with the big league club, simply because there is still a dearth of major league-ready talent to fill out the bullpen from, and it's probably worth at least a month's exploration to see how Beato does in the bigs. Both players bring something to the table, and at their cost, become a worthwhile gamble. Furthermore, with an eye towards acquiring and developing young talent, and led by an enviable brain-trust of top player development execs, I'd say that if you felt more enthusiastic towards these picks as a result of the new direction the team is taking, then it's a further win-win. And who knows- maybe we'll see both players in Queens in April!!
A few days ago, on the heals of the recent Rule 5 draft, the MLB Network aired a "Prime 9" special, listing their "top 9 Rule 5 Draft Picks"...and quite an interesting list it is!!
9.) Bobby Bonilla: White Sox to Bucs
8.) Shane Victorino: Dodgers to Phils
7.) Dan Uggla: D-Backs to Marlins
6.) Josh Hamilton: Rays to Cubs (then immediately to Reds)
5.) Willie Hernandez: Phils to Cubs (then to Tigers)
4.) Darrell Evans: A's to Braves
3.) George Bell: Phils to Jays
2.) Johan Santana: Astros to Marlins (then immediately to Twins)
1.) Roberto Clemente: Dodgers to Bucs
Not a bad list!! One hall-of-famer (Clemente), one really great player (Evans), 2 potential hall-of-famers (Santana & Hamilton, if things go very right for both of them) and some excellent supporting players.
Some names to be added to this list, that the special didn't have space to add: Joakim Soria, Paul Blair (from the Mets), Jody Davis, Dave Hollins, Jeff Nelson, Bip Roberts & last year's home run leader, Jose Bautista!! Also not a bad list!! But all told, that's still only 16 players, out of hundreds of players who've been drafted over the years via this process.
Of course, there are a number of other players who have made an impact as a result of being plucked via this method, but overall the success rate isn't exactly reassuring. So why would anyone make a big deal about the draft? Well, when you are attempting to utilize every avenue available to you, and you're able to acquire a few potential roster additions for the small price of $50,000 each, it's certainly a worthwhile gamble!!
Although I'd be (pleasantly) surprised to see Brad Emaus make the team out of Spring Training, I'd bet that Sandy & company could probably come to an agreement with the Jays to keep him in exchange for something/someone else, should they feel he may be useful to the team down the road. Pedro Beato probably has a better chance of sticking with the big league club, simply because there is still a dearth of major league-ready talent to fill out the bullpen from, and it's probably worth at least a month's exploration to see how Beato does in the bigs. Both players bring something to the table, and at their cost, become a worthwhile gamble. Furthermore, with an eye towards acquiring and developing young talent, and led by an enviable brain-trust of top player development execs, I'd say that if you felt more enthusiastic towards these picks as a result of the new direction the team is taking, then it's a further win-win. And who knows- maybe we'll see both players in Queens in April!!
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