Protecting for the Rule 5 Draft

[CJ9]

By Tuesday, AA and company have to decide about protecting players from the Rule 5 Draft. MLB.com wrote an article about it, highlighting prospects in every team's rankings that have to be protected. Here are the ones in our top 30 that need to be protected or would be exposed to the draft.

20. Huascar Ynoa, RHP
21. Patrick Weigel, RHP
22. Travis Demeritte, OF
27. Alex Jackson, C
28. Josh Graham, RHP
29. Jacob Webb, RHP

[Super]

I think Weigel should/will be protected.
I could see Graham and/or Webb protected as well.
The rest I think won't be.

[CJ9]

I think Weigel should/will be protected.
I could see Graham and/or Webb protected as well.
The rest I think won't be.

I was thinking Weigel and Webb for sure, but I'm not sure why Webb wasn't called up late last year since AA knew he'd need to be placed on the 40-man this offseason anyway. That makes me think he might not get protected.

Ynoa could be an interesting one for a rebuilding team to pick and then stick him in the bullpen for the year.

[CJ9]

Webb in the Dominican this fall: 2-0, 4 SV, 0.90 ERA, 10 IP, 1 R, 14 SO, 2 BB. That after a great 2018 at AA/AAA. I'd give him a spot on the 40-man.

[atl717]

Ynoa would get picked. Gotta protect him.

[Super]

Ynoa would get picked. Gotta protect him.

and do what with him all year? a contending team doesn’t really have a spot for a guy like that on the 40-man. i’m also not positive he’ll be picked anyway

[zbhargrove]

and do what with him all year? a contending team doesn’t really have a spot for a guy like that on the 40-man. i’m also not positive he’ll be picked anyway

I disagree. A contending team can stash one player on a 40 man without it hurting. Ynoa would certainly get picked. I'd protect him. He's been a slow developer but his stuff is wicked and he's maturing. He will be a good pitcher one day.

[bravesfanMatt]

I disagree. A contending team can stash one player on a 40 man without it hurting. Ynoa would certainly get picked. I'd protect him. He's been a slow developer but his stuff is wicked and he's maturing. He will be a good pitcher one day.

But would they stick him on the 25 man roster. Because that is the rule.

[Southcack77]

But would they stick him on the 25 man roster. Because that is the rule.

I believe he was saying the Braves could not afford to stash him on the 40 man roster if they wanted to contend, which doesn’t make a ton of sense to me.

I think they could but not sure they have to or that it’s a big deal either way.

I’m inclined to want to keep him around because he’s on a different time table.

[bravesfanMatt]

I believe he was saying the Braves could not afford to stash him on the 40 man roster if they wanted to contend, which doesn’t make a ton of sense to me.

I think they could but not sure they have to or that it’s a big deal either way.

I’m inclined to want to keep him around because he’s on a different time table.

He might have been saying that now that I read it again. But I don’t think a team is going to put him on their 25 man roster. I would risk exposing him. Initially Weigel is the only one worth locking down. But maybe Webb needs to as well. I am Webb ignorant.

[clvclv]

Weigel is the obvious "no-brainer", but a lot is going to depend on what AA and company think of several of the folks already on the 40-Man since it's currently at 36. If you assume AT LEAST 3 spots will be filled with acquisitions (corner OF, C, and one RP), you're at 39 and Weigel fills things up. Assuming he's not traded, Riley will take up a spot whenever he's promoted - so you're right back in the position that someone will have to be dropped at that point.

Did they see enough out of Ricardo Sanchez for him to keep his spot? Probably not. You could probably say the same about Wes Parsons - now that Soroka, Touki, Gohara, Wilson, Fried, and Allard have been added, Weigel is back, and Anderson isn't that far away, can you really justify a spot for him? Are they going to cut Luke Jackson and Sam Freeman loose?

Probably impossible to answer at this point until we hear what the decisions on those guys are.

Trading for Raffy Lopez probably signals they're not going to protect A-Jax UNLESS some of those Pitchers are removed from the roster.

[50PoundHead]

Weigel is the obvious "no-brainer", but a lot is going to depend on what AA and company think of several of the folks already on the 40-Man since it's currently at 36. If you assume AT LEAST 3 spots will be filled with acquisitions (corner OF, C, and one RP), you're at 39 and Weigel fills things up. Assuming he's not traded, Riley will take up a spot whenever he's promoted - so you're right back in the position that someone will have to be dropped at that point.

Did they see enough out of Ricardo Sanchez for him to keep his spot? Probably not. You could probably say the same about Wes Parsons - now that Soroka, Touki, Gohara, Wilson, Fried, and Allard have been added, Weigel is back, and Anderson isn't that far away, can you really justify a spot for him? Are they going to cut Luke Jackson and Sam Freeman loose?

Probably impossible to answer at this point until we hear what the decisions on those guys are.

Trading for Raffy Lopez probably signals they're not going to protect A-Jax UNLESS some of those Pitchers are removed from the roster.

I think Luke Jackson and Wes Parsons are dropped from the 40-man and Ricardo Sanchez is on the bubble. I wouldn't be shocked if Rio Ruiz was also dropped (although I wouldn't do that). This little conundrum is why I thought bringing up Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright to pitch 7 and 6 innings respectively wasn't the best idea. I think the other thing to remember is that if we acquire either or both a cOF and C through trades, it is likely that guys currently on the 40-man roster will be included in those deals. This process is just about getting through the Rule 5 relatively unscathed.

[clvclv]

I think Luke Jackson and Wes Parsons are dropped from the 40-man and Ricardo Sanchez is on the bubble. I wouldn't be shocked if Rio Ruiz was also dropped (although I wouldn't do that). This little conundrum is why I thought bringing up Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright to pitch 7 and 6 innings respectively wasn't the best idea. I think the other thing to remember is that if we acquire either or both a cOF and C through trades, it is likely that guys currently on the 40-man roster will be included in those deals. This process is just about getting through the Rule 5 relatively unscathed.

Same lines as I was thinking.

I don't think anyone picks up Jackson or Parsons if you want them back, and probably the same goes for Sanchez at this point. Unless AA has a trade to be completed prior to the deadline, my preference would be to cut Freeman, Jackson, Parsons, and Sanchez loose while adding Weigel, Ynoa, and Webb (all of whom I think would get poached if you leave them available). That leaves you the extra spot for Riley's promotion if no trades come to fruition.

[Southcack77]

He might have been saying that now that I read it again. But I don’t think a team is going to put him on their 25 man roster. I would risk exposing him. Initially Weigel is the only one worth locking down. But maybe Webb needs to as well. I am Webb ignorant.

I’m sure weigel would be claimed.

[Southcack77]

With guys like Ynao, there is also a risk if you add them to the 40 man too soon they will burn through the 3 options before they are ready. I'd wait a year on him.

Don’t see why.

Braves don’t have to call him up.

It’d take him three years to run out of options even if they did.

Somewhat questionable whether he’s good enough to worry about it.

[CJ9]

Bowman article: https://atmlb.com/2PHj0WQ

Says Weigel and Webb are likely protected. Ynoa and demertitte unlikely, Graham and Jackson maybes.

Most interestingly, he suggest Vizcaino could be DFAed.

[Southcack77]

I thought about Viz being non-tendered, but it’s unclear how they’d spend that money better. High level set up men don’t come cheaper.

[nsacpi]

Demeritte was not selected when left unprotected last year. So, there's little reason to be concerned about losing a player who has shown why the Rangers were willing to trade him in return for Lucas Harrell and Dario Alvarez.

that's just cold

[BeanieAntics]

I've now seen the "Non tender Viz" narrative multiple times... The idea of letting Viz walk for nothing seems crazy to me. I can't imagine a scenario where some team with a different financial outlook wouldn't be willing to trade for him (assuming we are dead set on shedding his money). I just don't see any reason to non-tender Vizcaino.

[clvclv]

I've now seen the "Non tender Viz" narrative multiple times... The idea of letting Viz walk for nothing seems crazy to me. I can't imagine a scenario where some team with a different financial outlook wouldn't be willing to trade for him (assuming we are dead set on shedding his money). I just don't see any reason to non-tender Vizcaino.

No doubt. Makes perfect sense if you let him walk following this season, but given the projections many of the non-lockdown Closer free-agents (Allen/Soria/Robertson/Miller/Herrera/Ottavino) are expected to get this winter, Viz is a relative bargain - he's looking at making $500,000 less than FanGraphs expects Holland to get on the open market following his St. Louis debacle - someone would give you something to not pay those prices.