After a one-year hiatus, the Rule 5 Draft is back, and the Giants have important decisions to make.
Before the Nov. 15, 3 p.m. deadline, the Giants have to decide whether or not to add certain players to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
The draft can lead to roster crunches across the sport. The Tampa Bay Rays for instance, according to MLB Network reporter Jon Morosi, are expected to be active on the trade market before the protection deadline.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Giants and the 2022 Rule 5 Draft.
When is the Rule 5 Draft?
This year’s draft will be held on Dec. 7, at the winter meetings in San Diego. Teams must submit their 40-man rosters, called “reserve lists” by Nov. 15.
How does it work?
Clubs must have space on their 40-man rosters to participate in the draft. Teams often waive or non-tender players in order to create room. It’s important to note that players can’t be added to 40-man rosters after Nov .15, unless they’re acquired from another team or signed as a free agent.
Players selected in the Rule 5 Draft must be added to the team’s 26-man roster for the entire 2023 season. They can’t be sent down to the minors without first clearing waivers. This means teams selecting a player in the Rule 5 Draft typically believe the player can contribute right away.
There are also Triple-A and Double-A versions of the Rule 5 Draft.
Although there are recent success stories — Garrett Whitlock, Akil Baddoo — Rule 5 picks rarely pan out.
Who is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft?
Players who are not currently on their team’s 40-man roster and are experiencing their fourth Rule 5 Draft if they initially signed at 19 years old. The same goes for if they signed at 18 and are on their fifth turn.
This year, that means if a player was 19 or older and signed in 2019 they are eligible. So are those who were 18 or younger when they signed in 2018 or before.
To prevent those players from being added to the draft pool, teams must add them to their 40-man “reserve list.”
Which Giants are eligible?
The above parameters make several Giants prospects eligible for the draft.
Top prospects Marco Luciano and Luis Matos are each eligible for the first time. Hunter Bishop, Nick Avila, Jairo Pomares, Ricardo Genovés, Seth Corry, Tristan Beck, Will Wilson, Armani Smith, Jose Cruz and Michael Stryfeller are also Rule 5 candidates for SF to consider.
Which players will the Giants protect?
Luciano, the 21-year-old shortstop, may be the only lock to be added to the 40-man roster.
Luciano is San Francisco’s top prospect, per MLB.com, and reached High-A Eugene last year. Though he won’t necessarily factor into SF’s 2023 plans, he’d almost certainly get swooped up in the Rule 5 Draft if he went unprotected.
Matos is a slightly trickier case. Ranked third in the Giants’ farm, Matos struggled with injuries and posted a .617 OPS for the Emeralds. The outfielder still has a ton of promise and losing him for nothing would be a major risk.
Avila posted a 1.14 ERA out of the bullpen and reached Double-A last season. Lightning-in-a-bottle relievers are historically a popular Rule 5 archetype.
What does that mean for the Giants?
San Francisco’s 40-man roster is currently full, so adding anyone would require corresponding moves.
The Giants opened unrestricted free agency by working the waiver wire, adding a catcher and pitcher from Texas.
There are a number of appearingly expendable players on the 40-man, who likely don’t factor into the club’s immediate future. The Giants could also release a player and hope he clears waivers.
Players who may be on the fringe of SF’s roster include Colten Welker, Donovan Walton, and Sam Delaplane. The newly acquired Dom Nuñez, Meibrys Viloria and Drew Strotman also qualify. Plus a decision on Tommy La Stella is looming.