Expanded Rosters Could Alter Rule 5 Draft

As everyone readies for Thanksgiving turkey, major league front offices are sorting and resorting Rule 5 preference lists. On Nov. 18, all 30 teams finalized their 40-man rosters in preparation for Dec. 8’s Rule 5 draft. And soon after that, all 30 teams received a list of 1,656 players available in the major and minor league portions of the Rule 5 draft, giving teams plenty of choices of players to pick.

This year, the possible changes in a new collective bargaining agreement also provide additional uncertainty. Ken Rosenthal reported that owners and players are discussing a proposal that would increase the major league roster size to 26 for the entire season in exchange for a smaller expanded roster in September, perhaps 28 or 29 active players, rather than 40.

While nothing has been finalized, an extra roster spot would make it easier for a rebuilding team to carry a Rule 5 pick who won’t contribute much.

“It certainly would seem to make it easier for teams to take guys,” said one American League front office executive. “It’s harder to predict whether it will make it easier for teams to keep guys. Roster spots seemingly will remain precious commodities.”

“It’s not a huge factor, but it’s not a zero factor,” said another AL executive.

There’s three different ways an extra roster spot could help players get picked in the Rule 5 draft. Rule 5 draft picks with very few exceptions are players who will receive the major league minimum salary, so it’s a chance for teams to add an inexpensive player.

If as expected many teams use the potential extra roster spot for an extra arm, it could make relievers more appealing. But the extra spot could also allow teams to carry an additional utility infielder or speedy defensive replacement/pinch runner, making a different group of players appealing.

But the way that most executives believe the expanded roster will affect the Rule 5 draft is in teams looking to stash a promising young player who isn’t big league-ready. As much as that long been considered a staple of the Rule 5 draft, it actually doesn’t happen all that often. With 25-man rosters, it’s very hard to convince a big league manager to play with effectively a 24-man roster. But with a 26-man roster? All of a sudden a very talented, but-too-inexperienced player might be worth a pick since a rebuilding team would still have 25 other players to rely on.

“I think what will be different is how teams try and are able to keep Rule 5 players because of that extra roster spot,” said a National League front office executive.