2 Phillies prospects who are locks for Rule 5 protection, 1 who could be left exposed

As the offseason continues we have passed the first event with the General Managers Meetings this past week. While we got some information about the Philadelphia Phillies' plans, we're still waiting for them to wow us with some moves. However, we will see some roster movement in the coming days with the Rule 5 roster protection deadline approaching.

The Rule 5 Draft isn't until the Winter Meetings in December, but the deadline for teams to protect eligible players from the draft is set for Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. ET. The Phillies have until then to add prospects to the 40-man roster to keep them from potentially being taken by other clubs.

So, who's eligible? There are two groups of eligible players. Non-40-man roster players who signed at age 18 or younger and have been in the system for five seasons and players who signed at age 19 or older and have been with the team for four seasons are eligible.

The Phillies protected three players last offseason: Mick Abel, Moisés Chace and Jean Cabrera. This November, there are a couple of prospects who are no doubt slam dunks to be added to the 40-man roster, while others remain on the bubble. Let's start with who will be protected.

2 Phillies prospects who will be protected from the Rule 5 Draft

Andrew Painter, RHP

This is a no-brainer. The Phillies will definitely protect Andrew Painter from the Rule 5 Draft. Even though the right-hander didn't have the 2025 season everyone had hoped for, but he's still a top pitching prospect. MLB Pipeline still ranks him No. 1 in the Phillies system and No. 16 overall.

Painter struggled with command in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, which isn't all that surprising as command is usually the last thing to click after the procedure. He began his year in Single-A Clearwater, throwing 11 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and one walk before moving up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in May.

Against this more advanced competition, Painter struggled to locate even though his velocity was great. He threw 106 2/3 innings for the IronPigs but got stung for a 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. He struck out 111 batters for a 23.4 percent strikeout rate but walked 46 for a less-than-encouraging 9.7 percent walk rate.

Regardless, he's still 22 and will have a chance to claim a rotation spot in spring training, so the Phillies will add him to the 40-man roster before Tuesday's deadline.

Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF

This should be another easy decision for the Phillies. Slugging outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. ranks as the team's No. 9 MLB Pipeline prospect. He opened everyone's eyes in spring training when he exploded out of the gate with some impressive power.

Rincones mashed three home runs in his first 12 at-bats of Grapefruit League action. The 6-foot-3 lefty hitter finished the spring hitting just .217 in 29 plate appearances but slugged .609 with a .988 OPS.

In Triple-A this season, Rincones hit .240 with a .799 OPS, 18 home runs, 81 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 506 plate appearances. He had one of the top walk rates in the International League, earning free passes 15.1 percent of the time, propping up his solid .370 on-base percentage.

Rincones will be 25 on Opening Day. Depending on how this offseason goes as the Phillies try to rebuild the outfield from scratch, you can envision him getting a chance to prove himself on the big league roster at some point next year.

1 Phillies prospect who could be left unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft

Griff McGarry, RHP

Griff McGarry surfaces again. The right-hander was a top prospect as recently as 2023, when he was the Phillies' No. 3 per MLB Pipeline. He has since fallen out of the Top 30.

McGarry still has good "stuff" but his inability to command keeps holding him back. In 72 innings in Double-A Reading, he posted a 3.25 ERA and struck out 103 (33.9 percent strikeout rate). The problem was the 45 walks he allowed for an obscene 14.8 percent walk rate.

McGarry looked good in his one Triple-A start this season, striking out eight in five innings while walking just two. He was the Paul Owens Award winner as the organization's top minor league pitcher.

However, he's 26 now and has a hugely high-risk profile, so the Phillies might take a chance that he won't get taken in the draft. They left him unprotected last offseason and there were no takers. It wouldn't be surprising to see him left unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. It also wouldn't be surprising if they added him to the 40-man roster to protect him.