Getting the Atlanta Braves Roster Ready For The Rule Five Draft
By Fred Owens
A Rule 5 Primer
(Note: if you know all about rule five feel free to jump to the next page.)
The MLB Rule 5 Draft takes place every year on the last day of the Winter Meetings after the final 40 man roster and the reserve lists are submitted. There are three phases to the Rule 5 draft:
- The Major League Phase when teams can select Rule 5 Draft eligible players off the reserve lists of any minor league clubs for a fee of $50,000.
- The AAA Phase when AAA affiliates can choose eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs below AAA for $12,000.
- The AA Phase when AA affiliates can choose eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs below AA for $4,000.
Who is Eligible?
The rules making a player vulnerable to the Rule 5 draft are a little convoluted but I’ll try to make it as simple as possible.
Rule 5
A minor league player is Rule 5 eligible if:
- Was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract is eligible for selection starting with the fifth Rule 5 Draft after his first qualified season
- Was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the fourth Rule 5 Draft following his first qualified season.
- He was released and signed back with the team
- He was on a minor league reserve list and was outrighted to the minors at least once before in his career
- Anyone the team wants to designate as eligible.
- Minor league player-managers who would be eligible for selection as a player
- Players eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 (6 year) minor league free-agent (see below)
- who sign a new minor league contract with his current organization before being declared a free-agent
- Free agents with prior MLB and/or minor league service who sign a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft
If a player signs his first contract after the conclusion of the season of the team he is first assigned to the next season is considered his “first qualified season.” This largely applies to undrafted free agents or international free agents since the signing date for Rule 5 draftees is in July.
Next: Six Year Free Agents