In the minor league portion of the draft. If the player is a single A or AA player and not on the 40 man roster can he be "drafted" and put on A or AA roster of new team?....
Would it be in a players (who is not yet ready to play in the bigs) benifit to be in AA rather than AAA? As an AAA player he might not be drafted if he needs to go on 25 man roster. As a AA player he needs to be protected because he could go to in the new clubs minor league system.
Posts: 1176 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
njbb The answer to your question is yes they could. My son was drafted last december by the Blue Jays from class A, and they could play him at A, AA or AAA.
Faith is to believe what you don't see; The reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
njbb, As I understand this, the Rule V draft is run in two separate steps. If a minor leaguer, at any level, has completed their 4th year(5 for those signing out of high school), and is not on the 40 man, the player is eligible for the draft. If he is selected in the major league phase, then the selecting team pays the required amount and places them on the 40 man. At the end of Spring Training, that player must be kept on the 25 man active roster or be returned to the prior team. In the minor league phase, so long as the player, at any level, is not on the 40 man, they can be selected and placed within the drafting organization. Bottom line, it isn't what level you are at that determines the ability to be selected in the Rule V. It is whether you have played enough years and whether you are or are not protected on the 40 man roster that leaves a player exposed for drafting. The only requirement for the level at which those drafted must play is in the MLB phase. A player selected from a AAA roster isn't required to be kept on the 25 man or the 40 man rosters by the acquiring team if they were taken in the minor league phase of the Rule V.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2052 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
On the Royals their 2003 1st round pick was not protected. He is still considered a prospect by the organization and is in triple A. He might not be considered major league ready at this time. Why wouldn't a team pick him up in the minor league part of the draft?
Posts: 1176 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
TPM, yes there are 2 phases of the draft. I understand when a player needs to be protected and that you must be placed on the 25 man roster if selected in the MLB portion. I don't understand why more players are picked up in the minor league portion of the draft
Posts: 1176 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
He might not have been eligible for the 2007 Rule V. If he was picked out of high school and was a late sign or didn't play that summer, he would not have enough years to be included. I am guessing either his first year for inclusion in the rule V is this December, or other teams don't view him in the same way and would prefer not to invest money that direction. But if he is still considered a prospect, the more likely scenario is that they didn't need to put him on the 40 man as he isn't eligible until this year.(MLB and the player's association negotiated and shafted minor league players by adding one additional year for Rule V as part of the last agreement.)
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2052 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
It appears a AAA player is only eligible for the major league portion of the draft.If I'm reading it right
Better for the player to be in AA when not MLB ready than in AAA ?
njbb, I did a quick check on BA and they have similar information on the minor league portion not including AAA players. I was clearly mistaken on that one. Sorry. My guess would be that AAA players, not all, but many, are not included because they are actually free agents. Taking your article and updating, a player who signed when they were 18 or younger, and is in AAA would not be eligible to be drafted, and wouldn't need to be protected, until their 5th Rule V. On their 6th, they are a free agent if not signed by the MLB club and/or not on the 40 man. Other AAA players likely have been released along the way and are also signed as free agents. If the Rule V is designed to provide some player movement, those at the AAA level would, in today's world of Milb, appear to need less protection. On the other hand, there are still some players for whom this is a detriment, just as lengthening the time period by one year was a similar detriment.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2052 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
I am too tired to search. 
