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Explaining 40-Man Roster, Rule 5 Draft and DFAs

By Seth Carter
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Colin Poche #38 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in game four of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 08, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 08: Colin Poche #38 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in game four of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 08, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 14: American League All-Stars Manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay Rays looks on as Josh Hamilton of Texas Rangers greets Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle Mariners during the lineup before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 14: American League All-Stars Manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay Rays looks on as Josh Hamilton of Texas Rangers greets Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle Mariners during the lineup before the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images) /

Notable Rule 5 Picks

Considering when a player is selected in the Rule 5 Draft they are added to the acquiring team’s 25-man roster, there have been some significantly talented players taken in the Rule 5 Draft. Here’s a very brief list of a just a few of the surprisingly talented players we’ve seen go in the Rule 5 Draft over the years.

Roberto Clemente was acquired by the Pirates from the Brooklyn Dodgers. He went straight to the 25-man roster and began his pursuit of 3,000 hits and Hall of Fame enshrinement

Hindsight is 20/20 right? Josh Hamilton was left unprotected by our very own Tampa Bays Rays in 2007. Hamilton went from the Rays’ number one overall draft pick in 1999 to being completely out of baseball by 2002, as he struggled with substance abuse issues. He made an inconspicuous return in 2006 and by then, the Rays had lost their patience. They left him off of the 40-man roster and thus, Hamilton was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. The Cubs selected Hamilton and traded him to the Reds. He immediately went to the Reds’ 25-man roster and clubbed 19 home runs with a .292 average. The rest is history.

Did you know Dan Uggla was an Arizona Diamondback at one point? The D-Backs left Uggla unprotected in 2005, despite coming off of a 21-homer season in AA. The Marlins scooped him up and Uggla went from a discarded double-AA player to the starting second baseman for the Florida Marlins.

Other great players, including Cy Young winners like Johan Santana and R.A. Dickey were once Rule 5 Draft picks. Very good players such as Darren O’Day, Odubel Herrera, and Joakim Soria were all Rule 5 selections.

dark. Next. Rays DFA Matt Duffy

Who are some of your favorite Rule 5 Draft picks? Let us know in the comments below!

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