Getting the Atlanta Braves Roster Ready For The Rule Five Draft
By Fred Owens
When the season ends the Atlanta Braves must restructure the roster to prepare for the Rule 5 Draft. Who leaves and which prospects are protected?
Since John Hart and John Coppolella took over front office duties for the Atlanta Braves we’ve seen some unexpected names exposed to and lost to the Rule 5 draft. In 2014 The Twins took J.R. Graham and last year The Braves outrighted Todd Cunningham to make room on the roster and lost him to the Angels on a waiver claim. To understand the changes we need to review the rules.
The Reserve List – 40 Man Roster
As noted above during the season the reserve list may have more than 40 players on it because teams may replace players on the 60 day DL during the season, Rule 2 (a) of The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book says that the exception for disabled list players vanishes after the season ends.
"On a date designated by the Commissioner . . .each Major League Club shall file Major League and Minor League Reserve Lists with the Commissioner . . . A Major League Club shall include on its Major League Reserve List all players, player-managers and player- coaches who are currently under Major League Uniform Player’s Contracts . . . or who have been promoted to Major League status and must be tendered a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract for the following championship season by December 2. (emphasis added)"
This year the date is Friday, November 18th as the the 20th falls on a Sunday.
The Roster Now
There are 45 players currently on the reserve list. Five of those players are on the 60 day DL; Jesse Biddle, Andrew McKirahan, Eric O’Flaherty, Paco Rodriguez. Mallex Smith and Daniel Winkler.
Two of those players will absolutely be added back to the roster; Rodriguez and Smith. Winkler will likely be retained as well depending on how well his elbow is progressing.
Biddle and O’Flaherty are both a free agents after the season. EOF will not be tendered a contract and Biddle hasn’t yet thrown a pitch so it’s unlikely he will either.
If those assumptions are correct the roster sits at 43.
Next: Bye For Now