Note: Rule V Draft Deadline is Today
Today is the final day for MLB teams to notify the Commisioner’s Office of players who will be eligible for the Rule V Draft, which will be held on Dec. 11.
In an old article for Baseball America, Alan Schwarz wrote:
“Major league teams must protect players on their 40-man rosters within three or four years of their original signing. Those left unprotected are available to other teams as Rule 5 picks… Players who were 18 or younger on June 5 preceding the signing of their first contract must be protected after four minor league seasons. Players 19 and older must be protected after three seasons.”
For other rules and information, check out Mets Minor League Blog, where Toby Hyde suggests only Shawn Bowman be protected, for fear of losing him in the draft to another team.
According to Hyde, Mike Carp is not yet eligible.
In 1999, the Marlins picked up Johan Santana in the Rule V Draft, and then traded him to the Twins on the same day. Doh!
