Best players taken in Rule 5 draft.

[free2131]

Who do you think are the best players taken in the Rule 5 draft?

Here's mine:



5) Joakim Soria [Royals from Padres]
With Hoffman gone and Bell as their only reliable reliever, I'm sure they wished they had him in their pen... or in their rotation.



4) Josh Hamilton [Cubs from Rays, sold to Reds]
A win for the Reds, who got a solid two-thirds of a season from Hamilton before getting Edinson Volquez, a win for the Rangers, as they get a former #1 pick who finally is living up to his hype, and the Cubs... well, you know.



3) Dan Uggla [Marlins from D-Backs]
ROY his first year, a multi-time All-Star, and one of the best power hitting second baseman in history (though he will probably move to third in the near future).



2) Johan Santana [Twins from Astros]
Multi-time Cy Young winner and arguably the best pitcher of this decade.

and finally...





1) Roberto Clemente [Pirates from Dodgers]
Before I did a little research, I had always assumed that Santana was the best Rule 5 player. I had no idea that Clemente was a Rule 5 draftee. I don't think any team could have hoped for a better outcome than the Pirates got. One the All-Time greats, not only as a player, but as a person.

Honorable mentions: George Bell, Darrell Evans

[free2131]

I based my rankings on what the player did for the team that drafted him in the Rule 5. The reason Hamilton is so high for the Reds is because he also netted them Volquez.

Thinking back on it, without going back and changing my original post, I think I would put Evans ahead of Soria.

He had a breakout year for the Braves in 1973, and averaged an OPS+ of over 120 in 5 years. I do think Soria will wind up being more valuable over the long haul, though.

[BINGLEBOP]

Clarification: Santana was actually drafted by the Florida Marlins (from the Astros) after the Twins drafted Jared Camp, and then the Twins traded Camp for Santana. The Twins had the first pick and the Marlins had the second one. I still don't understand why the Twins didn't just draft Santana and the Marlins draft Camp.

Bobby Bonilla was another Rule 5 draftee.

[free2131]

Clarification: Santana was actually drafted by the Florida Marlins (from the Astros) after the Twins drafted Jared Camp, and then the Twins traded Camp for Santana. The Twins had the first pick and the Marlins had the second one. I still don't understand why the Twins didn't just draft Santana and the Marlins draft Camp.

Bobby Bonilla was another Rule 5 draftee.

Yeah, you're right:


The Rule 5 draft has opened opportunities for teams to take other team's top prospects who may not be ready for the major leagues. A prominent recent example is Johan Santana, who was chosen in the 1999 Rule 5 draft by the Florida Marlins when the Houston Astros declined to put him on their 40-man roster. After the Marlins traded Santana to the Minnesota Twins for minor leaguer Jared Camp, the Twins kept him on their roster for the 2000 season, despite the pitcher's subpar performance that season (6.49 earned run average) which was unsurprising given his youth and inexperience.

So, Santana was a Rule 5 pick, but for the Marlins, who then traded him to the Twins.

Okay, then, forget about my parameters then.

[Red Sox Fan 734]

I didn't know that Roberto Clemente was a rule 5 draft guy, interesting

[TheNamelessPoet]

I didn't know that Roberto Clemente was a rule 5 draft guy, interesting

yea...ill have to see if my grandfather knows that one

[RedsoxRockies]

I knew Clemente was a Rule 5er because I just read his Biography a few months ago.

[ewing6]

Roberto Clemente and I have the same birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RedsoxRockies]

Happy Birthday Eddie!

[ewing6]

it's not till august 18

[eggson27]

it's not till august 18

That's what you think.