Breaking down the players available in the Rule 5 Draft

(The above link is for baseballanalyst.com. Currently their top article is a good review of the position players available in the Rule 5 Draft. If you scroll down a couple articles, you'll find their piece on the available pitchers.

The Rule 5 Draft will be held at the end of the winter meetings on Dec. 11.

My personal draft board for the Royals would be:

1. Eduardo Morlan, RHP, Tampa Bay
2. Donald Veal, LHP, Chicago Cubs
3. James Skelton, C, Detroit

Morlan has good stuff, and good results. He's young and looks like he could be a pretty good reliever. And the Royals could handle carrying a young guy with upside in their 7th bullpen spot, even if he isn't quite ready to contribute yet.

Veal is talented and fairly young. He's been overexposed as a starter, but looks like he would make a good LOOGY.

Skelton is a good, young catcher who knows how to get on base. His defense is suspect and he really isn't quite major league ready yet, but who cares? He could be a good, cheap catcher for years to come, and the Royals could afford to deal with his growing pains for one season. Yes, the Royals have something of a logjam at catcher, but it is a logjam of mediocrity. Pick up Skelton and trade Buck or Olivo. If they lose Pena to waivers, so be it. Skelton will be better.

7 months ago NYRoyal Comment 14 comments 0 recs |

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pick

I’m actually a huge Alan Horne fan. He was hurt almost all last year but before that he was a big prospect with the Yanks. And he’s still really young. I think he’ll be ready for spring training, but if not couldn’t we put him on the DL? You can DL rule 5 guys, right?

If not, I also like J. Brent Cox. Also a Yankee prospect with past injuries. Was money at U. of Texas. People I know that are very familiar with UT baseball said he was much better than Huston Street when he was there. Maybe you steal your next closer again with him.

In the Royals game of life, Neifi Perez is the rake.

by Matty486 on Dec 1, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree on Horne

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 1, 2008 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by the way

I know this has nothing to do with Rule 5, but speaking of the Yankees, would you trade Butler and Teahen for Cano and Phil Hughes?

In the Royals game of life, Neifi Perez is the rake.

by Matty486 on Dec 1, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

without putting any thought into it -- Yes

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 1, 2008 7:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a toughy

Hughes has big upside, but there’s also a significant chance that he won’t ever reach that upside. He’s a very talented question mark. Cano is good but not great and has a big contract:

4 years/$30M (2008-11), plus 2012-13 club options
signed extension with Yankees 2/08 (avoided arbitration, $4.55M-$3.2M)
08:$3M, 09:$6M, 10:$9M, 11:$10M, 12:$14M club option ($2M buyout), 13:$15M club option ($2M buyout)

That’s a minimum of 3/27 guaranteed. He isn’t coming cheap. I guess it depends on if you think Cano’s crappy 2008 was a fluke and if you think Hughes will actually become a good MLB SP. I guess I’d be inclined to roll the dice.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 1, 2008 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

Yes, I'm still alive. Sorry to disappoint you.

by royaldaddy on Dec 2, 2008 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Morlan HAD good stuff

His fastball was down to 88 late in the year.

You take him and gamble he’ll get the fastball back.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Dec 1, 2008 8:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Morlan, Veal and Skelton

Those are the only names that seem to make much sense for the Royals.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 9:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picking Up Skelton

Means Buck is gone, I assume.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Dec 2, 2008 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Either Buck or Olivo would need to go if Skelton were acquired. Or, they could wait until late in spring training, seeing if Skelton is sufficiently MLB-ready. If they find out he’s not, then offer him back to the Tigers for $25k.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 2, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Christina Kahrl (sp?) Seems

To think House will fill a roster spot as a backup C/1B. It’s a good thought, but I don’t know iif Moore is ready to go that way. I also don’t know if House is good enough to justify a spot on a 4-man bench.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Dec 2, 2008 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what about Ross??????///

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 2, 2008 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm assuming that she's thinking that he could fill such a roster spot, but not that it is likely

Her wording does kind of make it seem like she’s predicting House on the 25-man roster, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. The Royals will have a 4-man bench. Does anyone seriously think that one of those spots will be taken by a half-assed reserve 1B/third catcher? That really is nonsense, unless Shealy goes down with an injury, and then House is still iffy for the 25-man roster.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 2, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs