With the deadline for adding players to 40-man rosters approaching, Major League Baseball teams face important decisions ahead of the Rule 5 Draft scheduled for December 10 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. Teams must decide by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET which prospects to protect from selection.
Among those eligible for Rule 5 selection are six Top 100 prospects: Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter (No. 16), Guardians shortstop Angel Genao (No. 59), Marlins catcher Joe Mack (No. 70), Cardinals catcher Leonard Bernal (No. 92), and Yankees righty Elmer RodrÃguez (No. 97) and outfielder Spencer Jones (No. 99). Their respective clubs are expected to protect them.
However, other roster decisions present more challenges across organizations. For the Philadelphia Phillies, right-handed pitcher Alex McFarlane is a notable case on the roster bubble this year. According to MLB Pipeline, “Teams interested in McFarlane in the Rule 5 Draft will certainly look at his premium fastball that touches triple digits and his ability to miss bats with that and his slider (10.6 K/9 rate in his career). But he also has walked 5.5 per nine and posted a 4.84 ERA while reaching Double-A in 2025. The bullpen is almost certainly in his future whether or not he remains a Phillie.”
Other organizations face similar dilemmas with players who have shown potential but come with questions about readiness or long-term roles.
The Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select certain unprotected players from other organizations’ minor league systems, provided they meet eligibility requirements based on age and professional experience.
