Welcome to our Rule 5 preview, which we will continue to update regularly in the lead-up to the Dec. 7 major league and minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft.
This will be the first MLB Rule 5 draft in two years, as last year’s was canceled thanks to the lockout of MLB players. It will also be the first MLB Rule 5 draft since MLB rosters were expanded to 26 players. The larger rosters could make it easier for teams to carry Rule 5 picks than it was in previous years with 25-player active rosters.
As a reminder, any players currently under contract with an MLB club who were initially signed before the end of the 2018 MiLB season and were 18 and under at the time of signing are eligible for the MLB phase of the Rule 5 draft if they are not on a 40-man MLB roster. Similarly, any players who were 19 or older who signed initially before the end of the 2019 MiLB season are eligible if they are not currently on a 40-man roster.
A team must have an open 40-man roster spot to select a player in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 draft. The team that’s picking pays $100,000 to select a player. That player cannot be optioned to the minors during the entirety of the 2023 season, and the player must spend at least 90 days on the active MLB roster (days on the injured or suspended list do not count toward the 90-day limit).
Ronny Simon, SS/2B, Rays
The Rays traded away infielders Brett Wisely, Xavier Edwards and Miles Mastrobuoni in advance of the roster-protection deadline, while also adding infielders Curtis Mead, Osleivis Basabe and Greg Jones to their 40-man roster. But even with all those moves, the Rays still have a few intriguing infielders who are Rule 5 options. Simon, a second baseman/third baseman, who was himself picked up in a November 2021 trade from the Cubs, has solid bat-to-ball skills and surprising pop for a 5-foot-9 infielder. Scouts received additional looks at Simon in the Arizona Fall League, where he impressed (.325/.402/.550). Simon is stretched at shortstop but he’s capable of producing average defense at second and third base.
Malcom Nunez, 1B, Pirates
Acquired by the Pirates in the trade that sent lefthander Jose Quintana to St. Louis, Nunez was left unprotected by Pittsburgh despite a strong 2022 season. A victim of the Pirates prospect-driven roster crunch leading up to 40-man roster deadline day, Nunez has several qualities of previous successful Rule 5 selections. His .262/.367/.466 line across 119 games between Double-A and Triple-A…
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