The MLB Winter Meetings are underway in Nashville, Tenn., which means the Rule 5 Draft is almost here. This year's draft takes place on Dec. 6, and every team will have the opportunity to pluck unprotected players from other clubs, both at the major league and minor league level. It doesn't mean that every team will.
In the Rule 5 Draft, teams can select eligible non-40-man roster players from other organizations for $100,000 and place them on their own 40-man roster. These selections must be assigned to the drafting team's 26-man roster and remain there for the season or be offered back to their original team, who may or may not take them.
The Phillies famously offered Rule 5 pick Shane Victorino back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers didn't want him, so he remained in the Phillies' minor leagues before eventually winning the World Series in 2008.
Last year, 14 players were taken in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, with eight getting time in the majors. The Philadelphia Phillies took a chance on right-hander Noah Song from the Boston Red Sox. After starting on the military list, it didn't work out for Song with Philadelphia, and the Phillies sent him back to Boston in August.
This year, the Phillies opted not to protect any players from the Rule 5 Draft, but that doesn't mean they won't look for hidden value among the weeds of other organizations. With few openings among non-pitcher positions, it makes sense that the Phillies may look for pitching talent.
So, what arms are available in this year's Rule 5 Draft that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld might take a flyer on? Here are four intriguing names that were left unprotected.
Matt Sauer, RHP, New York Yankees
New York Yankees No. 25 prospect Matt Sauer has primarily been a starter, but there's no reason his stuff wouldn't play out of the bullpen. A 2017 second-round draft pick, Sauer's progression has been hampered by injuries, per MLB.com, including Tommy John surgery in 2019 and two months on the IL with a forearm strain this season.
The 24-year-old right-hander has a riding 93-95 mph fastball and a mid-80s slider, which he used to put together a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings at Double-A this season. Sauer threw 10 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League but didn't fair quite as well in that hitter-friendly environment. He recorded 18 strikeouts but finished with a 5.91 ERA.
NEXT: Three more intriguing pitchers in this year's Rule 5 Draft.