It was decision time for Major League front offices today.
All 30 teams had until 6 p.m. ET to make decisions about their 40-man rosters. Some prospects earned a coveted spot, some did not and will thus be eligible to be picked up by another team in the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place at the Winter Meetings in Orlando on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn't stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.
For this year, that means an international or high school Draft pick signed in 2017 -- assuming he was 18 or younger as of June 8 of that year -- had to be protected. A college player taken in the 2018 Draft is in the same position.
There are 14 players on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list who needed to be protected or become exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
+ Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners (No. 2)
+ Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds (No. 26)
+ Royce Lewis, SS, Twins (No. 35)
+ Ronny Mauricio, SS, Mets (No. 53)
+ MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres (No. 56)
+ Tyler Freeman, INF, Guardians (No. 59)
+ George Valera, OF, Guardians(No. 63)
+ Nick Pratto, 1B, Royals (No. 65)
+ MJ Melendez, C, Royals (No. 67)
+ D.L. Hall, LHP, Orioles (No. 72)
+ Drew Waters, OF, Braves (No. 79)
+ Heliot Ramos, OF, Giants (No. 80)
+ Liover Peguero, SS, Pirates (No. 85)
+ Ryan Rolison, LHP, Rockies (No. 95)
+ Indicates that a player has been added to his team's 40-man roster
Over the past six seasons, all 59 Top 100 prospects who were eligible got roster spots:
There were far more Minor League players eligible, of course, with over 2,100 players on the Rule 5 eligible list this year; 169 were on organizational Top 30 lists. Last year, there were 174 ranked on Top 30s and 149 in 2019. The percentage of Top 30 prospects protected over the past six years:
2020: 86 of 174 (49.4 percent)
2019: 87 of 149 (58.3 percent)
2018: 71 of 149 (47.6 percent)
2017: 85 of 153 (55.6 percent)
2016: 84 of 144 (58.0 percent)
2015: 75 of 156 (48.0 percent)
Below is a list of all 30 teams' Top 30 prospects who needed to be protected to avoid being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
Arizona Diamondbacks
+ Kristian Robinson, OF (No. 8)
Matt Tabor, RHP (No. 21)
Levi Kelly, RHP (No. 22)
Keegan Curtis, RHP (No. 28)
+ Ryan Weiss, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Cooper Hummel, UTL
Atlanta Braves
+ Drew Waters, OF (No. 3, MLB No. 79)
+ Freddy Tarnok, RHP (No. 12)
Trey Harris, OF (No. 24)
Justin Dean, OF (No. 25)
Daysbel Hernandez, RHP (No. 27)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Brooks Wilson, RHP
William Woods, RHP
More ?
Baltimore Orioles
+ D.L. Hall, LHP (No. 3, MLB No. 72)
+ Kyle Bradish, RHP (No. 8)
+ Terrin Vavra, 2B (No. 13)
+ Kevin Smith, LHP (No. 14)
Adam Hall, SS/2B (No. 15)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
F¨¦lix Bautista, RHP
Logan Gillaspie, RHP
More ?
Boston Red Sox
+ Jeter Downs, SS (No. 5)
+ Brayan Bello, RHP (No. 6)
Gilberto Jimenez, OF (No. 10)
+ Josh Winckowski, RHP (No. 19)
Thaddeus Ward, RHP (No. 20)
+ Kutter Crawford, RHP (No. 23)
More ?
Chicago Cubs
Riley Thompson, RHP (No. 28)
+ Nelson Velazquez, OF (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Ethan Roberts, RHP
More ?
Chicago White Sox
Lenyn Sosa, 3B (No. 17)
+ Jason Bilous, RHP (No. 18)
Kade McClure, RHP (No. 19)
Luis Mieses, OF (No. 22)
Hunter Schryver, LHP (No. 24)
Luke Shilling, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Bennett Sousa, LHP
More ?
Cincinnati Reds
+ Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 1, MLB No. 26)
+ Allan Cerda, OF (No. 17)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Alexis Diaz, RHP
Daniel Duarte, RHP
James Marinan, RHP
More ?
Cleveland Guardians
+ Tyler Freeman, IF (No. 1, MLB No. 59)
+ George Valera, OF (No. 2, MLB No. 63)
+ Brayan Rocchio, IF (No. 7)
+ Jose Tena, IF (No. 12)
+ Bryan Lavastida, C (No. 13)
+ Richard Palacios, 2B (No. 14)
Aaron Bracho, IF (No. 15)
+ Cody Morris, RHP (No. 22)
+ Jhonkensy Noel, IF (No. 25)
+ Tobias Myers, RHP (No. 27)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Steven Kwan, OF
Konnor Pilkington, LHP
More
Colorado Rockies
+ Ryan Rolison, LHP (No. 3, MLB No. 95)
+ Ezequiel Tovar, SS (No. 11)
+ Noah Davis, RHP (No. 18)
Jameson Hannah, OF (No. 21)
Willie MacIver, C (No. 25)
Eddy Diaz, IF (No. 30)
More ?
Detroit Tigers
+ Kody Clemens, 2B (No. 18)
Paul Richan, RHP (No. 25)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Angel De Jesus, RHP
More ?
Houston Astros
+ Jeremy Pe?a, SS (No. 4)
+ Joe Perez, 3B (No. 9)
+ Shawn Dubin, RHP (No. 11)
Yainer Diaz, C (No. 13)
Alex McKenna, OF (No. 17)
Scott Manea, C (No. 18)
Jose Alberto Rivera, RHP (No. 28)
Jojanse Torres, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Jonathan Bermudez, LHP
More ?
Kansas City Royals
+ Nick Pratto, 1B (No. 2, MLB No. 65)
+ MJ Melendez, C (No. 4, MLB No. 67)
+ Jonathan Bowlan, RHP (No. 10)
Austin Cox, LHP (No. 12)
Zach Haake, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Collin Snider, RHP
Nathan Webb, RHP
Maikel Garcia, INF
More ?
Los Angeles Angels
D'Shawn Knowles, OF (No. 10)
Livan Soto, SS (No. 12)
Robinson Pina, RHP (No. 20)
+ Elvis Peguero, RHP (No. 23)
Orlando Martinez, OF (No. 26)
More ?
Los Angeles Dodgers
+ Jacob Amaya, SS (No. 14)
Leonel Valera, SS (No. 15)
+ Eddys Leonard, IF (No. 18)
+ Jorbit Vivas, IF (No. 19)
+ James Outman, OF (No. 27)
Robinson Ortiz, LHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Michael Grove, RHP
More ?
Miami Marlins
Griffin Conine, OF (No. 21)
More ?
Milwaukee Brewers
Korry Howell, OF (No. 15)
Carlos Rodriguez, OF (No. 22)
Tristen Lutz, OF (No. 29)
Victor Castaneda, RHP (No. 30)
Minnesota Twins
+ Royce Lewis, SS (No. 1, MLB No. 35)
+ Jose Miranda, INF (No. 8)
+ Josh Winder, RHP (No. 9)
+ Blayne Enlow, RHP (No. 15)
+ Cole Sands, RHP (No. 19)
+ Chris Vallimont, RHP (No. 21)
Yunior Severino, 2B/3B (No. 26)
More ?
New York Mets
+ Ronny Mauricio, SS (No. 3, MLB No. 53)
+ Mark Vientos, 3B (No. 6)
Carlos Cortes, 2B (No. 10)
+ Jose Butto, RHP (No. 13)
Josh Walker, LHP (No. 16)
Hayden Senger, C (No. 21)
Carlos Rincon, OF (No. 24)
Shervyen Newton, SS (No. 26)
Michel Otanez, RHP (No. 29)
Ryley Gilliam, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Adam Oller, RHP
New York Yankees
+ Everson Pereira, OF (No. 13)
+ Oswaldo Cabrera, IF (No. 16)
Josh Breaux, C (No. 18)
Brandon Lockridge, OF (No. 19)
Matt Sauer, RHP (No. 27)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Ron Marinaccio, RHP
Stephen Ridings, RHP
JP Sears, LHP
More ?
Oakland Athletics
+ Nick Allen, IF (No. 3)
+ Jordan Diaz, 3B (No. 11)
Junior Perez, OF (No. 15)
+ Cody Thomas, OF (No. 19)
+ Jorge Juan, RHP (No. 21)
Brady Feigl, RHP (No. 23)
Jeremy Eierman, SS (No. 26)
Austin Beck, OF (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Jonah Bride, INF
More ?
Philadelphia Phillies
+ Luis Garcia, IF (No. 8)
+ Jhailyn Ortiz, OF (No. 10)
Cristian Hernandez, RHP (No. 15)
Ethan Lindow, LHP (No. 26)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
James McArthur, RHP
Pittsburgh Pirates
+ Liover Peguero, SS (No. 5, MLB No. 85)
Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (No. 13)
+ Travis Swaggerty, OF (No. 16)
Mason Martin, OF (No. 17)
Cal Mitchell, OF (No. 18)
Omar Cruz, LHP (No. 26)
+ Canaan Smith-Njigba, OF (No. 27)
Cody Bolton, RHP (No. 28)
+ Jack Suwinski, OF (No. 29)
Eddy Yean, RHP (No. 30)
San Diego Padres
+ MacKenzie Gore, LHP (No. 4, MLB No. 56)
+ Eguy Rosario, SS (No. 15)
Brandon Valenzuela, C (No. 19)
+ Steven Wilson, RHP (No. 21)
+ Efrain Contreras, RHP (No. 23)
Agustin Ruiz, OF (No. 27)
Tirso Ornelas, OF (No. 28)
More?
San Francisco Giants
+ Heliot Ramos, OF (No. 4, MLB No. 85)
Seth Corry, LHP (No. 11)
+ Sean Hjelle, RHP (No. 13)
Luis Toribio, IF (No. 14)
Ricardo Genoves, C (No. 18)
Prelander Berroa, RHP (No. 23)
Blake Rivera, RHP (No. 28)
Tristan Beck, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Randy Rodriguez, RHP
Seattle Mariners
+ Julio Rodriguez, OF (No. 1, MLB No. 2)
+ Alberto Rodriguez, OF (No. 21)
Sam Carlson, RHP (No. 24)
St. Louis Cardinals
Delvin Perez, SS (No. 12)
Luken Baker, 1B (No. 13)
+ Brendan Donovan, 2B (No. 17)
Jhon Torres, OF (No. 19)
Julio E. Rodriguez, C (No. 20)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Freddy Pacheco, RHP
Jake Walsh, RHP
More ?
Tampa Bay Rays
Blake Hunt, C (No. 15)
+ Tommy Romero, RHP (No. 18)
Jacob Lopez, LHP (No. 23)
Ruben Cardenas, OF (No. 28)
+ Ford Proctor, SS (No. 29)
+ Jonathan Aranda, INF (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Calvin Faucher, RHP
Texas Rangers
+ Ezequiel Duran, IF (No. 7)
+ Ricky Vanasco, RHP (No. 12)
+ Ronny Henriquez, RHP (No. 15)
Steele Walker, OF (No. 20)
Bubba Thompson, OF (No. 27)
Toronto Blue Jays
Miguel Hiraldo, IF (No. 6)
+ Leo Jimenez, IF (No. 11)
Samad Taylor, IF (No. 17)
Adrian Hernandez, RHP (No. 23)
Eric Pardinho, RHP (No. 24)
Joey Murray, RHP (No. 25)
+ Zach Logue, LHP (No. 27)
+ Bowden Francis, RHP (No. 28)
Curtis Taylor, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospect added:
Hagen Danner, RHP
Washington Nationals
Tim Cate, LHP (No. 13)
+ Donovan Casey, OF (No. 18)
+ Evan Lee, LHP (No. 21)
Jordy Barley, SS (No. 25)
Richard Guasch, RHP (No. 26)
Israel Pineda, C (No. 27)