It was decision time for Major League front offices on Tuesday.
All 30 teams had until 6 pm ET to make decisions about their 40-man rosters. Some prospects earned a coveted spot, some did not and thus became eligible to be picked up by another team in the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place at the Winter Meetings in San Diego on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Players first signed at age 18 or younger 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 2018 had to be protected. A college player taken in the 2019 Draft was in the same position.
There were 15 players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list who needed to be protected or become exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
+ Grayson Rodriguez, RHP, O’s (MLB No. 4)
+ Diego Cartaya, C, Dodgers (No. 8)
+ Elly De La Cruz, INF, Reds (No. 14)
+ Marco Luciano, SS, Giants (No. 16)
+ Noelvi Marte, SS, Reds (No. 17)
+ Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays (No. 20)
+ Curtis Mead, 3B, Rays (No. 35)
+ Michael Busch, 2B, Dodgers (No. 42)
+ Brennen Davis, OF, Cubs (No. 48)
+ Owen White, RHP, Rangers (No. 59)
+ Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers (No. 66)
+ Orelvis Martinez, SS, Blue Jays (No. 70)
+ Kevin Alcantara, OF, Cubs (No. 86)
+ Ceddanne Rafaela, SS, Red Sox (No. 96)
+ Endy Rodriguez, C, Pirates (No. 97)
Over the past eight seasons, all 88 Top 100 prospects who were eligible got roster spots:
This year, with 73 of 177 prospects ranked on organizational Top 30 lists added to 40-man rosters, the percentage dipped slightly to 41.2 percent. In 2021, 169 prospects were ranked, while in 2020, there were 174. The percentage of Top 30 prospects protected over the past eight years:
2022: 73 of 177 (41.2 percent)
2021: 80 of 169 (47.3 percent)
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
+ Dominic Fletcher, OF (No. 13)
+ Blaze Alexander, SS (No. 14)
Wilderd Patino, OF (No. 16)
+ Jorge Barrosa, OF (No. 18)
Dominic Canzone, OF (No. 19)
Carlos Vargas, RHP (No. 24)
Conor Grammes, RHP (No. 28)
+ Justin Martinez, RHP (No. 30)
Atlanta Braves
+ Braden Shewmake, SS (No. 5)
Victor Vodnik, RHP (No. 9)
+ Darius Vines, RHP (No. 15)
Brandol Mezquita, OF (No. 20)
Indigo Diaz, RHP (No. 28)
Tanner Gordon, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Roddery Munoz, RHP
Baltimore Orioles
+ Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (No. 2/MLB No. 4)
+ Seth Johnson, RHP (No. 10)
+ Joey Ortiz, SS (No. 17)
+ Drew Rome, LHP (No. 19)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Noah Denoyer, RHP
Boston Red Sox
+ Ceddanne Rafaela, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 96)
+ Brandon Walter, LHP (No. 7)
+ Chris Murphy, RHP (No. 11)
Eddinson Paulino, SS (No. 13)
Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP (No. 14)
Thad Ward, RHP (No. 15)
Brainer Bonaci, SS (No. 16)
+ Enmanuel Valdez, 2B (No. 18)
Christian Koss, 3B (No. 20)
+ Wilyer Abreu, OF (No. 23)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
David Hamilton, INF
Chicago Cubs
+ Brennen Davis, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 48)
+ Kevin Alcantara, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 86)
+ Ben Brown, RHP (No. 7)
Yohendrick Pinango, OF (No. 18)
Chase Strumpf, 2B (No. 25)
Luis Devers, RHP (No. 26)
+ Ryan Jensen, RHP (No. 28)
Kohl Franklin, RHP (No. 29)
Cincinnati Reds
+ Elly De La Cruz, INF (No. 1/MLB No. 14)
+ Noelvi Marte, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 17)
+ Brandon Williamson, LHP (No. 6)
+ Levi Stroudt, RHP (No. 24)
Ivan Johnson, 2B (No. 28)
Non-To 30 prospects added:
Ricky Karcher, RHP
Lyon Richardson, RHP
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Juan Brito, SS
Tim Herrin, LHP
Colorado Rockies
+ Warming Bernabel, 3B (No. 8)
Grant Lavigne, 1B (No. 13)
Juan Guerrero, OF (No. 17)
+ Brenton Doyle, OF (No. 21)
Aaron Schunk, 3B (No. 26)
+ Julio Carreras, SS (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Blair Calo, RHP
Riley Pint, RHP
Chicago White Sox
+ Bryan Ramos, 3B (No. 5)
+ Jose Rodriguez, SS (No. 7)
Luis Mieses, OF (No. 21)
Yolbert Sanchez, SS (No. 26)
Detroit Tigers
Reese Olson, RHP (No. 9)
Wencel Perez, SS (No. 14)
Austin Bergner, RHP (No. 15)
Parker Meadows, OF (No. 16)
Andre Lipcius, 3B (No. 22)
Elvis Alvarado, RHP (No. 26)
Jose De La Cruz, OF (No. 27)
Houston Astros
Jayden Murray, RHP (No. 12)
Cristian Gonzalez, SS (No. 17)
Corey Julks, OF (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
JP France, RHP
Kansas City Royals
TJ Sikkema, LHP (No. 16)
+ Alec Marsh, RHP (No. 19)
+ Diego Hernandez, OF (No. 20)
+ Samad Taylor, 2B (No. 25)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Freddy Fermin, C
Los Angeles Dodgers
+ Diego Cartaya, C (No. 1/MLB No. 8)
+ Michael Busch, 2B (No. 4/MLB No. 42)
+ Andy Pages, OF (No. 5/MLB No. 66)
Jose Ramos, OF (No. 8)
Carlos Duran, RHP (No. 19)
Ryan Ward, OF (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Jonny DeLuca, OF
Miami Marlins
Xavier Edwards, SS (No. 16)
Troy Johnston, OF (No. 20)
Griffin Conine, OF (No. 24)
MD Johnson, RHP (No. 26)
+ Josh Simpson, LHP (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
George Soriano, RHP
Eli Villalobos, RHP
Sean Reynolds, RHP
Milwaukee Brewers
+ Brice Turang, SS (No. 4)
Felix Valerio, SS (No. 14)
Eduardo Garcia, SS (No. 21)
+ Abner Uribe, RHP (No. 26)
Cam Robinson, RHP (No. 27)
Carlos Rodriguez, OF (No. 28)
Victor Castaneda, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Cam Robinson, RHP
Jon Singleton, 1B
Minnesota Twins
Misael Urbina, OF (No. 8)
+ Matt Canterino, RHP (No. 9)
+ Edouard Julien, 2B (No. 14)
Steven Cruz, RHP (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Brent Headrick, LHP
Casey Legumina, RHP
New York Mets
Junior Santos, RHP (No. 16)
Jordany Ventura, RHP (No. 20)
Stanley Consuegra, OF (No. 23)
Javier Atencio, LHP (No. 29)
New York Yankees
+ Randy Vasquez, RHP (No. 14)
Antonio Gomez, C (No. 16)
Josh Breaux, C (No. 20)
+ Johnny Brito, RHP (No. 22)
Alexander Vargas, SS (No. 25)
Brandon Lockridge, OF (No. 26)
Edgar Barclay, LHP (No. 27)
Juan Carela, RHP (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Matt Krook, LHP
Oakland Athletics
+ Lawrence Butler, OF (No. 14)
Euribiel Angeles, SS (No. 17)
Logan Davidson, SS (No. 19)
Brayan Buelvas, OF (No. 21)
Colin Peluse, RHP (No. 24)
Jorge Juan, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Hogan Harris, LHP
Philadelphia Phillies
+ Johan Rojas, OF (No. 5)
Erik Miller, LHP (No. 7)
McKinley Moore, RHP (No. 24)
Alexeis Azuaje, INF (No. 27)
Pittsburgh Pirates
+ Endy Rodriguez, C (No. 6/MLB No. 97)
+ Mike Burrows, RHP (No. 8)
Malcom Nunez, 1B (No. 12)
Matt Fraizer, OF (No. 16)
Maikel Escotto, SS (No. 21)
Matt Gorski, OF (No. 22)
Dariel Lopez, SS (No. 23)
+ Jared Triolo, 3B (No. 24)
Rodolfo Nolasco, OF (No. 28)
Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (No. 29)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Colin Selby, RHP
San Diego Padres
Korry Howell, OF (No. 9)
Jairo Iriarte, RHP (No. 10)
Noel Vela, LHP (No. 11)
Tirso Ornelas, OF (No. 18)
Nerwilian Cedeno, 3B (No. 26)
Brandon Valenzuela, C (No. 27)
Moises Lugo, RHP (No. 28)
Matthew Waldron, RHP (No. 30)
Seattle Mariners
+ Jonatan Clase, OF (No. 13)
+ Prelander Berroa, RHP (No. 16)
Milkar Perez, 3B (No. 19)
Robert Perez Jr., OF (No. 21)
+ Cade Marlowe, OF (No. 22)
Travis Kuhn, RHP (No. 28)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Isaiah Campbell, RHP
San Francisco Giants
+ Marco Luciano, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 16)
+ Luis Matos, OF (No. 3)
Jairo Pomares, OF (No. 14)
Hunter Bishop, OF (No. 22)
Will Wilson, SS (No. 25)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Tristan Beck, RHP
Jose Cruz, RHP
Keaton Winn, RHP
Brett Wisely, 2B
St. Louis Cardinals
Inohan Paniagua, RHP (No. 13)
Dionys Rodriguez, RHP (No. 19)
+ Connor Thomas, LHP (No. 24)
+ Moises Gómez, OF (No. 30)
Tampa Bay Rays
+ Taj Bradley, RHP (No. 1/MLB No. 20)
+ Curtis Mead, 3B (No. 2/MLB No. 35)
+ Osleivis Basabe, SS (No. 13)
+ Greg Jones, SS (No. 16)
Heriberto Hernandez, OF (No. 17)
Kameron Misner, OF (No. 20)
Austin Shenton, 3B (No. 23)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Colby White, RHP
Texas Rangers
+ Owen White, RHP (No. 4/MLB No. 59)
+ Luisangel Acuña, SS (No. 7)
+ Dustin Harris, OF/1B (No. 9)
+ Cole Winn, RHP (No. 10)
Antoine Kelly, LHP (No. 13)
+ Jonathan Ornelas, SS (No. 21)
Avery Weems, LHP (No. 23)
+ Zak Kent, RHP (No. 25)
Mason Englert, RHP (No. 29)
Toronto Blue Jays
+ Orelvis Martinez, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 70)
+ Yosver Zulueta, RHP (No. 5)
Gabriel Martinez, OF (No. 8)
+ Spencer Horwitz, 1B (No. 12)
+ Addison Barger, SS (No. 13)
Alex De Jesus, 3B (No. 15)
Tanner Morris, SS (No. 18)
Adrian Hernandez, RHP (No. 23)
Alejandro Melean, RHP (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Nathan Lukes, OF
Washington Nationals
+ Jeremy De La Rosa, OF (No. 10)
+ Jackson Rutledge, RHP (No. 12)
Aldo Ramirez, RHP (No. 18)
+ Jose Ferrer, LHP (No. 23)
+ Matt Cronin, LHP (No. 25)
Drew Millas, C (No. 30)
Non-Top 30 prospects added:
Jake Alu, INF
Jake Irvin, RHP
+ indicates player has been added to the 40-man roster
.