Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - An early look at the 40 man roster for Rule 5 draft purposes

An early look at the 40 man roster for Rule 5 draft purposes

Look here. The calendar tells me that it's August, which means that it's 3 months until Rule 5 draft. It was a non-event last year, with the exception of Kansas City's selection of Andy Sisco, but who knows what this year holds.

Under the rules, college drafts from 2003, who are not on the 40 man roster, are eligible for the first time for selection in the upcoming Rule 5 draft this fall. Here is the current Jay 40 man roster. Among those currently on the roster are:

Miguel Negron
John-ford Griffin
Raul Tablado
Ken Huckaby
Jason Arnold.

The following players are at risk of being selected if not added to the roster:

Shaun Marcum
Jamie Vermilyea
Josh Banks
Ryan Roberts
Davis Romero
Rob Cosby
Bubbie Buzachero
Kurt Isenberg
Robinson Diaz.

Davis Romero will be a 6 year minor league free agent after this season if he is not added to the 40 man roster. In that event, he could be acquired by another organization without the Rule 5 limitations.

It does seem that the Jays will be able to protect their best prospects. I will come back to this again in November before the draft.

Posted by Mike Green on Friday, August 12 2005 @ 01:30 PM EDT.

An early look at the 40 man roster for Rule 5 draft purposes | 17 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Maldoff - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 01:55 PM EDT (#125373) #

From what I can see, there are 8 guys that need to be protected. I think that Bubbie will not be selected if he's in the draft, but that's about all.

With that said, there appear to be 4 slots available on the 40-man, as I don't think the Jays are willing to give up on Negron yet. It will be hard, though, for the Jays to have guys like Diaz and Romero, both in A ball, to have on 40-man.

Nigel - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#125380) #

A few other names that are on the current 40-man that aren't locks to keep their places - Downs (notwithstanding yesterday's efforts); Ramirez; Rosario; Hattig; Menechino. I'm not saying that any of them will necessarily be knocked off (there's much that can happen by way of trades before final decisions have to be made) but none of them are locks. For example, I would protect Marcum, Cosby and Romero ahead of Ramirez. Of your list of possible losses, I would think that Buzachero, Diaz and Isenberg are unlikely to be protected.

Jonny German - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#125381) #

I count 38 currently on the 40-man.

I've got no qualms about cutting Ken Huckaby, Jason Arnold, and Raul Tablado, in which case I have 5 spots. Which can't all necessarily be used for prospects, but there are 5 that I'd ideally like to add:

Shaun Marcum
Jamie Vermilyea
Josh Banks
Ryan Roberts
Davis Romero

I wonder what Lee Gronkiewicz' status is. I think he's Rule-5 eligible (unless there's a rule that you can't be Rule-5'd in consecutive years) and there's a definite risk he'd be taken. I think he has a very good chance of being the next in the Jason Frasor - Vinnie Chulk line, so it's not a risk I'd be real keen to take.

Not sure if any GM is tools-crazy enough to take Yuber Rodriquez, and I'd go ahead and take that chance because there's no way he lasts a full season on a Major League roster.

Of the arbitration-eligibles on the 40-man, I can see Towers or Downs being non-tendered. And there should be some trade activity, which could involve reduction in the 40-man. Bottom line, I don't see the Rule 5 being a problem this year.

Ducey - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 02:30 PM EDT (#125382) #

There are only 38 spots being used now. I would turf Tablado, Arnold and Huckaby - maybe Menechino.

The Jays usually keep a spot open but may not this year. That gives them spots for Banks, Marcum, Roberts, Cosby and Romero.

I guess they also have to worry to a lesser extent about Snavely, Vito, Cota, Thorpe, Ryan Houston, Manny Mayorson.

Mike Green - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 02:38 PM EDT (#125383) #

Lee Gronkiewicz would be Rule 5 eligible. With the bullpen being good this year, he has not had the chance to display his talents at the major league level (as would likely have happened in 2002, 2003 or 2004). The life of an older pitching prospect is about chance.

Anyways between Gronk, Andrade and Carlson, the Jays are well stocked in this department.

Marc Hulet - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 03:04 PM EDT (#125386) #

Carlson might be interesting to other organizations because he has not allowed a run in more than 25 innings since being demoted from triple-A to double-A. He also had great numbers in the low minors and has a pretty solid pitching repertoire for a lefty.

You also have to consider two double-A relievers in Tracy Thorpe and Ryan Houston. Both have struggled in the past but have really turned things around this season and improved their control. They also throw in the mid-90s. The biggest question with them, though, is health.

The three main types of players taken in recent years include young starting pitchers (A-ball) with high upside and at least one dominating pitch, lefty relievers or toolsy hitters with speed, usually outfielders or shortstops.

If I were a team like the Devil Rays or the Royals, who made a great but no-brainer pick in 2004 to get Andy Sisco, I would take a look at someone like Gronk and/or Houston.

slitheringslider - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 03:46 PM EDT (#125388) #

Although there seems to be an abundant of players who we should protect. However, you need to remember that the players selected must remain on the major league roster for the entire 2006 season or be returned to its original team. How many of those players could realistically make an impact at the major league level by next year that a club would risk plugging up a roster space? These players would most likely be frome Triple-A or Advanced Double-A players, cause it's unlikely a A-baller could produce at the Major League level.

One player I would love to see the JP keep and offer a chance with the big club is Gronk. He has been near perfect coming out of the bullpen for the Fisher Cats and the Sky Chiefs and has been averaging nearly a K/IP. If he can dominate AAA like that I see no reason why he can't repeat it at the Major League Level.

MatO - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 04:27 PM EDT (#125392) #

I wouldn't hesitate to drop all five on the bubble and maybe Menechino too. Negron can be someone else's Willie Canate. JFG had a better year but not anything to lose sleep over. Protect Marcum, Banks, Roberts, Cosby and Romero for sure. Houston if you can fit him in. I doubt Vermilyea would be drafted. He's struggled at AAA (partly due to his ever changing roles in my opinion) and he's considered to have marginal stuff by scouts. Gronkiewicz and Carlson anyone could have had last off-season. Diaz is a pop-gun hitter who doesn't have a great defensive reputation. Isenberg doesn't have the "tools" that teams like in the Rule 5 draft. Bubbie is like 5'10" again not very toolsy. I don't think there's much to worry about.

Mike Green - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#125393) #

We haven't said much about Cosby over the years. Here are his career stats. They're a bit deceptive, as he hit well in winter league in 2003-4 and was off to a hot start in the EL at age 23 before his shoulder injury.

David Paul - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 05:51 PM EDT (#125402) #

If he can dominate AAA like that I see no reason why he can't repeat it at the Major League Level.

Um, Chad Gaudin? Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for Gronk; he's an underdog at 5'9" (maybe the lOw-Dog?), but I would think another organization would grab him in the minor league portion of the rule 5 if he's eligible next year.

Jacko - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 09:15 PM EDT (#125413) #

Why's everyone so down on Gaudin?

I realize he got rocked in his audition this year, but he's still:

(a) very young (22)
(b) throws in the low 90's with a wicked slider

It's just too soon to give up on him.

Gronk, based on his numbers, should get a shot at a bullpen job next year. And I really want to see a Gronk vs. Pronk matchup when we play Cleveland.

Fun facts:

Over his 5 year minor league career, Gronk has never posted an ERA over 3.03, and has averaged better than 1 strikeout per inning.

Pistol - Friday, August 12 2005 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#125415) #

'Everyone' isn't down on Gaudin.

13 innings in Toronto this year isn't going to make me ignore the rest of Gaudin's track record, including 80+ moderately effective innings in Tampa when he was 20/21.

Maybe he won't be a starter down the road, but I'll be really surprised if he isn't at least an above average reliever.

Marc Hulet - Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 01:24 AM EDT (#125427) #

Even if he is not protected on the 40 man roster, Gronk will certainly be added to the Syracuse off-season roster, which would make him unavailable in the minor league phase.

PeterG - Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 01:30 AM EDT (#125428) #

Well I'm down on Gaudin. He is out of options meaning that he must be waived in order to be sent to Syracuse. Since I think he has zero chance of making the Jays next year, might as well test waivers early and not waste a spot on the 40 man. Better still, try and include him him in a deal, say with Gabe Gross whom I like but feel is unlikely to have a future in TO. Better to trade guys in the winter than wait till the end of spring training when ,with no options, their value decreases as everyone knows you have no choice but to move them.

R Billie - Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 01:39 AM EDT (#125429) #

Zero chance? That's a little harsh. I think they have to keep Gaudin around even if it's as long relief. A 22 year old with that kind of stuff has to be given a chance. Unless you want to see him go become Brandon Lyon for another team. If you can trade him for something then fine but it isn't his fault the Devil Rays decided to call him up as a 20 year old with minimal AA experience.

What he does have to do is learn to pitch without relying on the slider. His fastball and changeup command have to get a lot better.

rtcaino - Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 02:33 AM EDT (#125430) #

R Romero

4 ip 5h 1er 1bb 1k

rtcaino - Saturday, August 13 2005 @ 02:37 AM EDT (#125432) #

Ooops sorry, wrong thread. It's 2:37 Friday night, give me a break... Ya, this is what I do on Friday nights...

An early look at the 40 man roster for Rule 5 draft purposes | 17 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.