DALLAS — The Rule 5 Draft has been the unofficial final act of the annual Winter Meetings. This year’s edition will take place on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET to close things out, and as always, there will be players who will get the chance to make Opening Day rosters in the spring.
Any player who turned pro at age 18 or younger in 2020 or at age 19 or older in 2021 is eligible for selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft if he isn’t on a 40-man roster. Clubs who take a player in that phase must pay his former team $100,000 and keep him on their active big league roster throughout the following season. The player can’t be sent to the Minors without first clearing waivers and then getting offered back to his original organization for half his Draft price.
Below is a list of intriguing eligible players based on those rules who could hear their names during the Major League phase, listed alphabetically. As things unfold in Dallas, it will be updated as buzz around the lobby builds. A player’s ranking on his current team’s Top 30 is listed in parentheses when warranted.
Jose Acuna, RHP, Reds: A flexor strain limited him to just 39 innings during the regular season, but he did make it back to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, striking out 11.1 per nine innings there. He can run his fastball up to 96 mph and it could play up in shorter relief outings, and he backs that up with a slider and a changeup.
Cooper Bowman, 2B/OF, A’s (No. 20): In two full seasons since coming from the Yankees in the Frankie Montas deal in 2022, Bowman has hit a combined 20 homers with 81 steals while reaching Triple-A. His speed is an asset and he’s shown he can play second base and now center field.
Lazaro Estrada, RHP, Blue Jays: In his first year of starting full time, Estrada reached Double-A for the first time and had success there. He has a career 10.9 K/9 rate, striking out 9.5 per nine in the Eastern League. He ticked that up to 14.7 K/9 in the AFL, with a particularly effective slider (52 percent miss rate). Teams will like his metrics.
Christian Franklin, OF, Cubs (No. 21): A terrific athlete who missed all of his first pro season following a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Franklin has plus raw power (though he hits the ball on the ground too much), solid speed when underway and plenty of arm strength. He hit .268/.398/.366 with five homers and 34 steals this year and could provide some versatility because he plays all three outfield spots well.
Yujanyer Herrera, RHP, Rockies (No. 29): While spending most of the year at High-A with the Brewers and then the Rockies after the Nick Mears deal, he got over the century mark in innings as a starter for the first time. He has a solid three-pitch mix, future starter potential and throws strikes, but a team taking him would likely shorten him up and see if there’s an uptick in velocity as a reliever.
Liam Hicks, C, Tigers: The Tigers just got Hicks, along with righty Tyler Owens, from the Rangers at this past year’s Trade Deadline, but opted not to protect him. Teams could go shopping for big league backup options in the Rule 5, and Hicks has very solid on-base skills to boot.
Bryan Magdaleno, LHP, Rangers: Magdaleno went from Single-A to Double-A and finished with a 1.27 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 42 2/3 IP. He was one of the top relievers in the Minors with his .132 BAA, using a mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider from a low, wide arm slot.
Kala’i Rosario, OF, Twins (No. 19): While he might be a little bit more of a tougher profile to stick in the big leagues at this point because he’s a corner outfielder only, the power potential could intrigue teams. Healthy in 2023, he was the Midwest League MVP and hit 21 homers. He also swung the bat well in the Arizona Fall League after coming back from an elbow injury.
Sammy Siani, OF, Pirates: There isn’t a huge track record of success here, but a swing change vaulted him out of High-A Greensboro to Double-A for the first time. If a team takes him, it will be based on his Fall League showing (.375/.457/.550) and because he runs well and can play all three outfield spots.
A.J. Vukovich, OF, D-backs: There might be too much swing-and-miss here, but Vukovich has some track record of run production, with 24 homers and 96 RBIs in Double-A in 2023, then hitting 17 homers back in Double-A and reaching Triple-A for the first time while playing all three outfield spots in 2024.
Ryan Webb, LHP, Guardians (No. 26): Webb led the AFL in strikeouts in 2023 and had a nifty 2.80 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 141 1/3 innings at the upper levels of Cleveland’s system last year. It’s not a big fastball, averaging 91 mph, but his slider, changeup and curve are all effective.
