Philly Leader

Major League Baseball teams face important decisions as the deadline to set their 40-man rosters approaches on November 19. Players not added to these rosters will be eligible for selection by other organizations in the Rule 5 Draft, scheduled for December 11 in Dallas.

According to MLB rules, players signed at age 18 or younger must be added to a team's roster within five seasons, while those signed at age 19 or older must be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player does not remain on the selecting team's 26-man roster for an entire season, he must be offered back to his original team for $50,000.

"This year," according to MLB Pipeline, "that means an international prospect or high school Draft pick signed in 2020 at age 18 or younger must be protected. A college player -- or a 19-year-old high school player -- taken in the 2021 Draft is in the same position."

Among those needing protection are four players from MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list: Owen Caissie (Cubs), Colson Montgomery (White Sox), Tink Hence (Cardinals), and Zac Veen (Rockies). Historically, all eligible Top 100 prospects have been placed on rosters over the past nine years.

In addition to these top prospects, there are currently "96 players on organizational Top 30 lists" who need protection this year. The number of eligible players is smaller than usual due to fewer signings during the COVID-19 pandemic and a reduced draft size in subsequent years.

Teams across Major League Baseball are now evaluating which of their top prospects will secure spots on their respective rosters before next week's deadline.