The MLB Winter Meetings are officially underway, with rumors galore. Speculation is rampant regarding where top players such as Shohei Ohtani, Josh Hader, Juan Soto, Dylan Cease, and Corbin Burnes, to name a few, will either sign or possibly be traded.
The Philadelphia Phillies have given the impression that they will not be making any blockbuster signings or trades following the re-signing of Aaron Nola on Nov. 19. They have a core consisting of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola that is experienced and aiming to win a World Series.
During the Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 Draft is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 6 in Nashville, Tennessee at 1:00 p.m. CT. The Phillies have plenty of options in determining what position player to select, if any.
Phillies have the 24th selection in the Rule 5 Draft
The Rule 5 Draft order is determined by the reverse order of the previous season's standings. This year, the Phillies have the 24th selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
There are a lot of pitching options available in this year's draft, and the Phillies may select a player from this position.
According to MLB.com, some possible pitching options include Angel Bastardo (Boston Red Sox, No. 16), Matt Sauer (New York Yankees, No. 25), Tanner Burns (Cleveland Guardians, No. 19), Tyler Owens (Atlanta Braves, No. 26), and Ian Bedell (St. Louis Cardinals, No. 16).
Top 30 Phillies prospects not protected who are Rule 5-eligible
Philadelphia previously opted not to protect any players by adding them to their 40-man roster at the deadline on Nov. 14.
One of their notable prospects they didn't protect who is Rule 5-eligible this year is outfielder Carlos De La Cruz, the No. 6 prospect in Philadelphia's system. The 6-foot-8, 24-year-old played in Double-A for the Reading Fightin Phils during the 2023 season. He had a slash line of .259/.344/.454 and a .798 OPS in 129 contests. The outfielder finished with 25 doubles, 24 home runs, and 67 RBI.
Carlos De La Cruz with a BLAST!
— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) April 13, 2023
R-Phils cut the Hartford lead to 5-4. Top six coming up at https://t.co/D9FIjegjf3! pic.twitter.com/jVFWIgyeqV
Samuel Aldegheri, the Phillies' No. 27 prospect, is also Rule 5-eligible. The 22-year-old pitcher spent most of last season in Single-A with the Clearwater Threshers. In 16 games and 15 starts, he compiled 67 2/3 innings and finished with a 3.86 ERA.
He had 79 strikeouts, limited hitters to a .234 average, and had a 1.32 WHIP. The left-handed Aldegheri also pitched four games in High-A for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. He finished with 16 innings pitched, a 5.63 ERA, 20 strikeouts, a .288 average against, and a 1.50 WHIP.