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Baltimore Orioles: Rule 5 Draft deadline rules and players

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles debut in the second inning against Mike Trout #27 (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 18, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles debut in the second inning against Mike Trout #27 (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 18, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Monday is the deadline for the MLB Rule 5 Draft rosters and the Baltimore Orioles might not do anything about it for this Hot Stove season.

There are several players in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system that could be taken by other teams, but not until next month.

To avoid losing players to the Rule 5 Draft, the Orioles would have to put a handful of them on their 40-man roster. And, most likely, this will not happen.

How the Rule 5 Draft works

The Rule 5 Draft is one of the more confusing MLB rules and it occasionally ends up helping teams and players. This rule was established to prevent teams from hoarding minor league players. In a nutshell, the rule allows teams to keep players in their minor leagues for up to five years. Then, they are available for drafting by other teams. But, the rule only applies to players of certain ages.

This easy-to-understand explanation is from MLBTradeRumors.com:

"A player that signed at 18 years of age or younger and has played five seasons of pro ball with his organization is Rule 5 eligible if he is not added to the 40-man roster today. Players that signed at 19 or older and have played four seasons are also eligible to be selected if they’re not added to the 40-man roster today. (In other words, college draftees out of the 2014 class, high school draftees out of the 2013 class and most international amateurs signed in the 2013-14 international period are eligible this year if not protected.)"

The Orioles are chock full of players that fit this situation. In fact, according to Roster Resource, there more than 25 minor league players who are eligible to be drafted by other teams. This would happen during the Winter Meetings later in mid-December. However, many of these players would not be of interest to many clubs. If the Orioles cannot find a spot for them on a roster, then other teams most likely would not either. Because, once a player is taken in a Rule 5 Draft, that player needs to be put on the 40-man roster. To top it off, the drafting team would have to pay the Orioles $100,000 for any player.

The O’s Rule 5 player

More from Orioles News

Anthony Santander was drafted by the Orioles in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft from the Cleveland Indians. Fortunately for the Orioles, he was injured, so he was able to stay on the disabled list rather than have to take up a spot on the 40-man roster. But, since he finished the season and had more than 25 days on the O’s roster, he gets to stay with the team. He has to spend at least 90 days with the O’s on the 40-man, otherwise, he goes back to the Indians.

It’s quite a convoluted mess of player movement. But, sometimes it works out well. Not often, though.

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The Orioles already have their top prospects on the 40-man roster. Austin Hayes and Chance Sisco are untouchable by other teams right now. But, there could be a few players added to the 40-man roster by the 8:00 PM. If anything happens, we will let you know.

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