
Cubs 2021 Rule 5 Draft & Minor League Free-Agent Watch List
UPDATED 11/7
As things stand right now...
61 Cubs minor leaguers are eligible for selection in the December 2021 MLB Rule 5 Draft, and 45 Cubs minor leaguers (29 post-2021 6YFA and 16 2021 second-contract players) are eligible to be declared MLB Rule 9 (formerly known as MLB Rule 55) minor league free-agents at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the 2021 World Series (or at 5 PM Eastern on October 15th if the 2021 World Series is cancelled).
In addition, RHPs Adrian Sampson and Kohl Stewart have Article XX-D rights, and can elect free-agency after being outrighted earlier this week. If either of them do not elect free-agency by 5 PM (Eastern) on Sunday 11/7, they will be automatically declared an MLB Rule 9 minor league 6YFA at that time (TBD).
Among the notable Cubs first-time Rule 5 Draft eligibles post-2021 are RHPs Derek Casey, Yovanny Cruz, Luis Devers, Manuel Espinoza, Jeremiah Estrada, Gabriel Jaramillo, Eduarniel Nunez, Ethan Roberts, Benjamin Rodriguez, Cam Sanders, and Riley Thompson, LHPs Chris Allen, Jack Patterson, and Luis Angel Rodriguez, INFs Fabian Pertuz, Yeison Santana, Luis Vazquez, Luis Verdugo, and Andy Weber, and OFs Edmond Americaan and Nelson Velazquez. From amongst this group, Roberts and Velazquez (likely) are probably the two most-likely to be added to the 40 on 11/19 (the roster filing deadline will be a day earlier than usual in 2021 because 11/20 falls on a Saturday), but whichever pitchers and position players listed above who are not added to the 40 on 11/19 will very likely be placed on the AAA Iowa reserve list so that they will be eligible for selection in the Major League Phase of the Rule Draft only.
Some of the noteworthy Cubs minor leaguers who were eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft and who will be eligible again in 2021 include RHPs Javier Assad, Danis Correa, Dakota Mekkes, Carlos Ocampo, Peyton Remy, Erich Uelmen, and Dauris Valdez, LHPs Brandon Hughes and Brendon Little, 1B- OF Jared Young, INF Delvin Zinn, and OFs Zach Davis and Yonathan Perlaza. B. Little, Correa, and J. Young are probably the three with the best chance to get added to the 40 by the November deadline.
The noteworthy Cubs minor leaguers who will be eligible to be a Rule 9 minor league free-agent for the first time post-2021 (if the player is not added to the 40 or signs a 2022 minor league successor contract prior to being declared a 6YFA at 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series) are RHP Dakota Chalmers, LHP Bryan Hudson, and RHP Eury Ramos.
Among Cubs minor leaguers eligible to be minor league free-agents again post-2021, LHP Luis Lugo is the most noteworthy. He signed a 2021 minor league successor contracts post-2020, and he has an outside shot to get added to the 40 if he declines to sign another successor contract post-2021.
NOTE: If not added to the MLB 40-man roster, the players underlined and in bold green below will likely be placed on the 38-man AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/19 so that they will be eligible for selection only in the Major League Phase of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft
CUBS MINOR LEAGUERS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN 2021 RULE 5 DRAFT (last updated 11-5-2021)
Jose Albertos, RHP
Chris Allen, LHP
Edmond Americaan, OF
Shendrik Apostel, 1B
D. J. Artis, OF
Javier Assad, RHP
Cam Balego, C-INF
Craig Bro0oks, RHP (on Restricted List)
Jesus Camargo,. RHP (on Restricted List)
Derek Casey, RHP
Danis Correa, RHP
Yovanny Cruz, RHP
Zach Davis, OF
Luis Devers, RHP
Christian Donahue, INF
Tyler Durna, 1B
Manuel Espinoza, RHP
Jeremiah Estrada, RHP
Miguel Fabrizio, C-1B
Kelvin Feliz, RHP
Reivaj Garcia, INF
Trent Giambrone, INF
Jose Miguel Gonzalez, RHP
Ben Hecht, RHP
Brandon Hughes, LHP (ex-OF)
Josue Huma, INF
Gabriel Jaramillo, RHP
Widimer Joaquin, INF
Levi Jordan, INF
Caleb Knight, C
Brendon Little, LHP
Dakota Mekkes, RHP
Eduarniel Nunez, RHP
Carlos Ocampo, RHP
Jack Patterson, LHP
Yonathan Perlaza, OF (ex-INF)
Fabian Pertuz, INF
Jake Reindl, RHP
Jorge Remon, RHP
Peyton Remy, RHP
Samuel Reyes, RHP
Ethan Roberts, RHP
Benjamin Rodriguez, RHP
Luis Angel Rodriguez, LHP
Cam Sanders, RHP
Yeison Santana, INF
Wyatt Short, LHP
Jonathan Sierra, OF
Jake Slaughter, INF-OF
Matt Swarmer, RHP
Riley Thompson, RHP
Erich Uelmen, RHP
Dauris Valdez, RHP
Didier Vargas, LHP
Luis Vazquez, INF
Nelson Velazquez, OF
Luis Verdugo, INF
Andy Weber, INF
Blake Whitney, RHP
Jared Young, 1B-OF
Delvin Zinn, INF
Additionally, a free-agent who signs a 2022 minor league contract prior to the 2021 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft 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 following his first qualified season, 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 following his first qualified season.
NOTE: If signed to a 2022 minor league successor contract and not added to the MLB 40-man roster, the players underlined and in bold green below will likely be placed on the 38-man AAA Iowa reserve list on 11/19 so that they will be eligible for selection only in the Major League Phase of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft.
ELIGIBLE TO BE ARTICLE XX-B FREE-AGENT AFTER CONCLUSION OF MLB REGULAR SEASON:
NONE
MLB RULE 9 FREE-AGENT POST-2021 WORLD SERIES
SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Jose Almonte, RHP
Abiatal Avelino, INF (Article XX-D player) - one minor league option left in 2022
Joe Biagini, RHP (Article XX-D player) - no minor league options left in 2022
James Bourque, RHP (Article XX-D player) - one minor league option left in 2022
Erick Castillo, C (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Dakota Chalmers, RHP (Article XX-D player) - two minor league options left in 2022
Yovanny Cuevas, OF
Donnie Dewees, OF
Johneshwy Fargas, OF (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Taylor Gushue, C (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Mike Hauschild, RHP (Article XX-D player) - two minor league options left in 2022
P. J. Higgins, C-INF (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Ben Holmes, LHP
Bryan Hudson, LHP
Tyler Ladendorf, INF (Article XX-D player) - one minor league option left in 2022
Ryan Lawlor, LHP
Luis Lugo, LHP
Dillon Maples, RHP (Article XX-D player) - no minor league options left in 2022
Ian Miller, OF (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Nicholas Padilla, RHP
Tyler Payne, C (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
C. D. Pelham, LHP (Article XX-D player) - two minor league options left in 2022
Raymond Pena, C
Eury Ramos, RHP
Aneuris Rosario, RHP
Adrian Sampson, RHP (Article XX-D player) - three minor league options left in 2022
Kohl Stewart, RHP (Article XX-D player) - one minor league option left in 2022
Marcus Walden, RHP (Article XX-D player) - one minor league option left in 2022
Joe Wieland, RHP (Article XX-D player) - no minor league options left in 2022
NOTE: Article XX-D means players can elect free-agency if sent outright to minors, and Article XIX-A means player must give his consent before he can be sent to minors by optional or outright assignment.
SECOND CONTRACT MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS (see NOTE-1 below)
Michael Arias, INF / RHP (previously released by TOR - see NOTE-2 below)
Aneudis Beard, RHP (previously released by TEX)
Andres Bonalde, LHP (previously released by CUBS)
Edwin Figuera, INF (previously released by STL)
Juan Gamez, RHP (previously released by MIN)
Alex Katz, LHP (previously released by BAL)
Ryan Kellogg, LHP (previously released by CUBS)
Garrett Kelly, RHP (previously released by MIN)
Austin Krzeminski, RHP (previously released by LAA)
Jackson McClelland, RHP (previously released by TOR) - three minor league options left in 2022
Carlos Sepulveda, INF (previously released by LAD)
Dalton Stambaugh, LHP (previouysly released by BAL - see NOTE-2 below)
Tyler Suellentrop, RHP (previously released by SEA)
Tim Susnara, C (previously released by AZ)
Vance Vizcaino, OF (previously released by KC)
Harrison Wenson, C (previously released by LAA)
NOTE-1: With mutual consent (player & club), a second-contract minor league player who has accrued fewer than seven minor league seasons can be signed to a multi-year minor league contract with club control extending up through the player's seventh minor league season. So it is possible that one or more of the Cubs minor league second contract players are signed beyond the 2021 season (TBD).
NOTE-2: If signed beyond 2021, Michael Arias and Dalton Stambaugh are - NOT - eligible for selection in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft
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