Atlanta Braves Choose Evan Rutckyj in Rule 5 Draft

Dec 12, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Roy Krasik, senior director of baseball operations for MLB holds the Rule 5 Draft during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

End of the Winter Meetings Brings New Roster Questions

Over the past couple of weeks, the Atlanta Braves have mentioned that they were after additional bullpen help, particularly from the left side.  I imagine that their search may not necessarily be over, but in what has to be a surprise, Atlanta used their 3rd overall pick position to take 23-year-old relief pitcher Evan Rutckyj away from the Yankees.

Rutckyj, a Canadian (and that name is pronounced ‘Evan’) was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 16th round of the 2010 draft out of his St. Thomas, Ontario high school.  He is 6’5″/213 and has been bouncing about in the Yankees’ system, reaching the AA level in 2015.

His best season in the minors appears to have been the one he just finished… and there could be hope that he’s ‘figured something out.’  Prior to 2015, Evan’s walk rate was elevated a bit much.  This year, he’s throwing strikes, getting strikeouts, and walking noticeably fewer batters.  In fact, the K:BB ratio shot up to 4:1 with nearly 12 strikeouts per inning at the A+ and AA levels over 62 innings – all that to go with a 3.06 AA ERA and much lower FIP.

BaseballAmercia say about … Evan… :

"Big, physical lefthander who operates with a 92-95 mph fastball and a breaking ball that ranks a tick below-average."

He’ll get a chance at the major league bullpen now:  the Rules of Engagement for the Rule 5 draft require teams to keep drafted players on their major league roster for the entire next season.  The Braves already need to carry Daniel Winkler on the 25-man list for another 30 days or so to officially make him their property.  Now Rutckyj will have to make the team or be offered back to the Yankees.

There was talk that Atlanta wanted outfielder Tyler Goeddel today, but the Phillies snapped him up with their first overall pick.  He’s a budding slugger who was in the Rays organization at the AA level.  I’m a bit surprised that he was left unprotected by Tampa Bay.  But even BaseballAmerica was surprised that Atlanta went ahead and made a pick today – they thought we’d pass or trade the pick away with Goeddel off the board.  Moreover, Rutckyj  wasn’t even on their radar of players that they had profiled.  Apparently, the past Yankee connections in the Braves’ front office wanted to roll the dice on this kid today.

In the AAA phase of the Draft today, Atlanta selected RHP Enderson Franco from the Marlins, a nearly-23-year-old who had a 3.89 ERA for the Rays in A-ball before going to the Marlins (7.29 ERA with them at the same level).

Atlanta also lost a player today:  LHP Mitch Lambson (almost 25½) was taken by Milwaukee in the AAA phase. He pitched well in relief for the Astros at AAA in 2015 (2.60 ERA over 17 innings); a bit less so for Gwinnett (4.50 in 6 innings).

St. Louis?  lost eight players from their organization – a remarkable number.

The Roster Questions

Already, my payroll spreadsheet has been going through significant changes as I’ve been trying to find room for players on a hypothetical 25-man active roster.

As of this morning, the Braves had 39 names on their 40-man reserve roster.  Trouble is, there are some names that have to be added soon:  Tyler Flowers, Emilio Bonifacio, and now Evan Rutckyj.  Rutckyj will get that 40th slot today (he’s already there, in fact) – that’s required by the rules of the draft.  But how do we find space for the other two guys… never mind space on the 25-man roster?

Couple of possibilities:

• A Trade – the Braves are actively talking with the San Diego Padres (who took four players in today’s draft!) about sending Christan Bethancourt to the West Coast.  Don’t expect a big name coming back – this will be a minor prospect of some ilk.  But this could be announced at almost any second.
• A DFA.  Joey Terdoslavich, Daniel Castro are possibilities, so is Andrew McKirahan.
• Stalling.  The Braves can wait it out for a while… perhaps as long as Spring, when the Disabled List can be utilized once again.

Next: Flowers... now Bonifacio is Back

But as suggested yesterday… I still don’t think Coppy is done, so a lot can still happen.  The Winter Meetings are now over for the vast majority of the participants, but it doesn’t mean at all that the dealing is done.