Rule 5 Draft On Tap Thursday at Disney World

12/12 UPDATE: The Arizona Diamondbacks selected RHP Marcos Mateo from the Cubs AAA Iowa affiliate with the 15th overall selection in the first round of the Major League Phase iof the 2013 Rule 5 Draft. Because he has been outrighted previously in his career, Mateo can elect free-agency if he is later re-claimed by the Cubs. (If re-claimed, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft MUST be sent outright to the minor league club from which he was drafted).

The Cubs also lost 1B Justin Bour (to Miami), OF Julio Borbon (to Baltimore), and RHP A. J. Morris (to Pittsburgh) off the AA Tennessee roster in the AAA Phase. Once selected, players chosen in the AAA or AA Phase cannot be re-claimed.

The Cubs did not make any selections in the Major League Phase of today's draft, but they did select left-handed hitting catcher Charlie Cutler from the Pittsburgh Pirates AA Altoona roster in the AAA Phase. Cutler was a college teammate of Cubs OF Brett Jackson at Cal.

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The MLB Rule 5 Selection Meeting (AKA "Rule 5 Draft") will be the last order of official business at the 2013 MLB Winter Meetings Thursday morning at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.

The Rule 5 Draft is a mechanism that allows MLB clubs to select (draft) players off minor league reserve lists. There is a "Major League Phase" where an MLB club can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs for $50,000, a "AAA Phase" where a club's AAA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of minor league clubs of a lower classification for $12,000, and finally a "AA Phase" where a club's AA minor league affiliate can select Rule 5 Draft-eligible players off the reserve lists of Class "A" clubs for $4,000.

There are always a few “out-of-left-field” surprise selections in the Rule 5 Draft (like when the Cubs selected RHP Lendy Castillo from the Phillies in 2011, or when the Diamondbacks selected RHP Starling Peralta from the Cubs last year), but there are also other times when it is fairly predictable that a certain player will be selected (like when the Cubs lost LHP Andy Sisco to KC in 2004, LHP Donald Veal to PIT in 2008, and INF Ryan Flaherty to BAL in 2011).

This time around, 23-year old Iowa Cubs OF Jae-Hoon Ha would appear to be a virtual lock to get drafted.

Ha is the second best defensive CF in the Cubs organization right now (second only to Albert Almora), he has the defensive chops, arm, athleticism, and versatility to play all three OF positions, he has above-average speed (he's at least fast enough that he could be used as a late-inning PR and then stay in the game and play OF), and he has the potential to eventually hit 12-15 HR (he hit 11 HR and belted 31 doubles in 132 games split between Hi-A Daytona and AA Tennessee as a 20 year old in 2011, before changing his approach and trying to be more of a "lead-off man"-type the last couple of seasons). Most importantly, while he certainly could use a full year of AAA experience, Ha is close enough to being MLB-ready that it would not be a stretch to believe that he could remain on an MLB 25-man roster (and actually be useful as the 4th or 5th OF) for the entire 2014 season.

Other Cub minor leaguers who are candidates to get selected in the Major League Phase of Thursday's Rule 5 Draft include 24-year old RHP Carlos Pimentel (ex-Yexas Rangers prospect signed by the Cubs as a minor league 6YFA last month, and currently pitching "lights out" for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League), RHRP Marcos Mateo (29-year old former member of the Chicago Cubs bullpen whose career was sidetracked for a couple of years by TJS and subsequent rehab setbacks, now pitching great as the closer for Estrellas de Oriente in the DWL), 24-year old RHP Matt Loosen (who threw a nine-inning CG no-hitter for Daytona this past season, and followed it up with a strong showing out of the bullpen for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League). and hard-throwing (albeit sometimes a bit too wild) 6'5 25-year old RHRP Marcus Hatley (presently working as the closer for Culiacan in the Mexican Pacific League).

Also keep an eye on the AAA Phase of the draft, when one or two Cubs minor leaguers left-off the AAA Iowa roster could be selected (see list below).

As far as the Cubs participation in the Rule 5 Draft is concerned, they do presently have two slots open on their MLB Reserve List (AKA "40-man roster"), so they could select as many as two players in the Major League Phase of Thursday's draft should they choose to do so. However, it has been reported that the Cubs have agreed to send their 1st round pick in the 2013 Rule 5 Draft (#4 overall) to Philadelphia to settle a grievance filed by the Phillies charging the Cubs with allegedly "hiding" Lendy Castillo on the 15-day DL for three months during the 2012 season, after the Cubs drafted Castillo from the Phils AAA Lehigh Valley affiliate in the Major League Phase of the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft. Players selected in the Rule 5 Draft can be traded after the conclusion of the draft, but the actual picks (slots) cannot be traded prior to the draft, so don't be surprised if the Cubs make the selection for the Phillies, and then "trade" the selected player to the Phils after the draft (if the slot is not actually transfered to the Phillies by MLB).

Also, although it has been reported by Carrie Muskat at cubs.com that the Cubs are not planning on making any selections in the Rule 5 Draft this year, nothing would prevent them from changing their minds and selecting players in the 2nd round (#34 overall) and 3rd round (#64 overall) of the Major League Phase of the draft, as well as players in the AAA and AA phases that follow.

RULE 5 DRAFT ELIGIBILITY

1. A minor league player who was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract is eligible for selection starting with the 5th Rule 5 Draft after he signs, and a minor league player who was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract becomes eligible for selection starting with the 4th Rule 5 Draft that followed his signing.

2. If a player signs his first contract after the conclusion of the season of the MLB or minor league club to which he is first assigned, the next season is considered to be the player's "first season" for Rule 5 eligibility purposes.

3. A free-agent with prior MLB and/or minor league service who signs a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract, or if the player was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 4th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract.

4. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has either been released or had his contract voided, and then re-signs with the same MLB organization within one year is eligible for selection. However, a player who was signed after being selected in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) cannot be eligible for selection in a Rule 5 Draft until after the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract with an MLB organization.

5. Any player on a minor league reserve list who has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career is eligible for selection.

6. A player on the Voluntary Retired List, Disqualified List, or Ineligible List is not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft, but a player on the Restricted List or the Military List is eligible for selection.

7. An MLB club can designate any player on a minor league reserve list "eligible for selection" in the Rule 5 Draft even if the player would not normally be eligible, but once a player is made eligible for selection, he remains eligible for selection in all subsequent Rule 5 drafts. However, a player who was signed after being selected in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) cannot be designated "eligible for selection" in a Rule 5 Draft until after the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract with an MLB organization.

8. A minor league player-manager who would be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if he was only a player can be selected, but if he is selected, the player-manager can reject the selection. He has 30 days to decide. If he rejects the selection, the player-manager cannot be signed as a player during the following season.

CUBS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2013 RULE 5 DRAFT

Players who were eligible to be a post-2013 Rule 55 minor league 6YFA but who signed a successor contract for 2014, Rule 55 "second-contract" players signed for 2014, and free-agents signed to minor league contracts for 2014 are underlined

Players who are most-likely on the AAA Iowa Reserve List are in bold (AAA Iowa Reserve List has limit of 38 players)

Gioskar Amaya, INF
Jeffry Antigua, LHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Frank Batista, RHP
Julio Borbon, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Justin Bour, 1B
Marcelo Carreno, RHP
Lendy Castillo, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Javier Castro, RHP
Zach Cates, RHP
Hunter Cervenka, LHP
Pin-Chieh Chen, OF
Casey Coleman, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Gerardo Concepcion, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Willson Contreras, C
Aaron Cunningham, OF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Wes Darvill, INF
Michael de la Cruz, RHP
Antonio Encarnacion, RHP
Paolo Espino, RHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Carlos Figueroa, INF (player-coach)
Eduardo Figueroa, RHP
Luis Flores, C
Anthony Giansanti, OF
Edgar Gonzalez, INF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Enyel Gonzalez, RHP
Carlos Gutierrez, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Jae-Hoon Ha, OF
Marcus Hatley, RHP
Marco Hernandez, INF
Walter Ibarra, INF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Eric Jokisch, LHP
Austin Kirk, LHP
Matt Loosen, RHP
Jeff Lorick, LHP
Eric Martinez, RHP
Marcos Mateo, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Darnell McDonald, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Trey McNutt, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
A. J. Morris, RHP
Jonathon Mota, INF
Thomas Neal, OF (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Chad Noble, C
Alan Oaks, RHP (ex-MIA - acquired from independent league club & signed for 2014)
Yomar Pacheco,RHP
Loiger Padron, RHP
Amaury Paulino, RHP
Felix Pena, RHP
Starling Peralta, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Carlos Pimentel, RHP (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Orbandy Rodriguez, RHP
Greg Rohan, INF
Jose Rosario, RHP
Victor Salazar, RHP
Brian Schlitter, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Ryan Searle, RHP
Elliot Soto, INF (on RESTRICTED LIST)
Nick Struck, RHP
Chris Valaika, INF (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Jeudy Valdez, INF (Rule 55 6YFA post-2013)
Yao Lin Wang, RHP
Casper Wells, OF (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Eli Whiteside, C (Article XX-D FA post-2013 - can elect free-agency if selected in Rule 5 Draft & then later reclaimed by Cubs)
Oliver Zapata, OF

RULE 5 DRAFT RESTRICTIONS

1. A minor league player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), traded to another organization, or transferred from one minor league reserve list to another within the same organization, starting with the filing of MLB & minor league resefve lists on November 20th up through the conclusion of the Rule 5 Draft.

2. A player cannot be sent outright to the minors on the two days prior to the Rule 5 Draft and on the day of the Rule 5 Draft up through the conclusion of the draft.

3. A club must have as many slots open on its MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players it selects in the Major League Phase, and an MLB club's AAA and AA affiliates must have as many slots open on their respective reserve lists prior to the Rule 5 Draft as the number of players the affiliate selects in the AAA and AA phases of the draft. There is no limit on the number of Rule 5 eligible players any one organization can lose.

4. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be placed on the drafting club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) immediately, and must be tendered a major league contract by 5 PM (Eastern) on the day of the draft.

5. A player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft can be traded at any time, but the player cannot be released or sent to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day, and then only if Outright Assignment Waivers have been secured and the player's former club declines to re-claim the player.

6. If a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft remains on an MLB Active List and/or MLB Disabled List(s) for the entire MLB regular season following selection & spends at least 90 days on an MLB Active List (25-man roster), Rule 5 restrictions are removed at the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (If time spent on an MLB Active List is less than 90 days in the season following selection, the player remains a Rule 5 player into the next season, and the player continues to be a Rule 5 player until he has spent 90 days total on an MLB Active List).

7. If a club decides not to keep a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 draft on its MLB 25-man Active List (and/or MLB DL), the player must be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers, where any of the other 29 MLB clubs can claim the player for the $25,000 Rule 5 waiver price and assume the Rule 5 obligations.

8. If the Rule 5 player is not claimed off Outright Waivers, the player then must be offered back to the club from which he was drafted, and the player's former club can reclaim the player for $25,000, with the player being automatically outrighted to the Reserve List of the minor league club from which he was drafted. The club from which the player was drafted usually has 72 hours to decide whether to reclaim the player, but it has only 24 hours to decide if the player is eligible to be an Article XX-D Free-Agent if outrighted to the minors (player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career).

9. If a Rule 5 player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, the drafting club is responsible for any portion of the player's salary above what the player was paid the previous season.

10. If a Rule 5 Player is returned (outrighted) to the minor league club from which he was drafted, and if the player has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time, qualifies for salary arbitration as a "Super Two" player, and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career, the player can elect to be an MLB Article XX-D minor league free-agent after being outrighted (he has three days to decide), or he can accept the Outright Assignment and defer the right to be a minor league free-agent until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season. (An outrighted "Super Two" Rule 5 player who has not previously been outrighted to the minors can elect free-agency if he is outrighted to the minors, but he cannot defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season).

11. If the club from which the player was drafted declines to reclaim the player, the Rule 5 restrictions are removed, the drafting club retains the player, and the player can be sent to the minors or released.

12. A player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft must be assigned to the Reserve List of the AAA or AA club that drafted the player, but the player can be assigned to the Active List of any minor league affiliate in the MLB club's organization once the minor league regular season commences. Also, unlike players selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft, a player selected in the AAA or AA Phase of the Rule 5 Draft does not have to be offered back to the club from which he was drafted if the player is ultimately assigned to the Active List of a minor league affiliate below the level of the minor league affiliate that drafted the player.

13. A club can select a player off the reserve list of one of its own minor league affiliates, but if the player is selected in the Major League Phase, the club is bound by the same Rule 5 roster restrictions as if it had selected the player off the reserve list of another club's minor league affiliate.

14. A player eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "covered up" from selection, either by agreement between two clubs or by effect. Also, a player selected in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft cannot be "hidden" on a Disabled List to help the drafting club fulfill Rule 5 roster obligations. If the MLB Commissioner believes a club "covered up" a player to avoid losing the player in the Rule Draft or "hid" a selected player on a Disabled List, the offending club or clubs are subject to a penalty (TBD by the MLB Commissioner).