Red Sox select two minor-league players in 2017 Rule 5 Draft
The Boston Red Sox selected right-handed pitcher Andrew Ferguson and center fielder Luke Tendler in the minor-league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft.
The Rule 5 Draft was held Thursday morning to wrap up the annual Winter Meetings in Orlando but the results are unlikely to have any significant effect on the Boston Red Sox.
Teams without a full 40-man roster have the opportunity to draft players from other organizations who were not protected on their 40-man roster. Only players who signed at age 18 or younger with at least five years of professional experience, or four years of experience for those signed at age 19 or older, are eligible to be drafted.
The draft goes in reverse order of the previous season’s standings but teams are not obligated to make a selection. Those that do make a pick in the major league portion of the draft must pay $100,000 to the club the player was selected from. That player must spend the entire following season on the 25-man active roster or disabled list; otherwise, they must be offered back to their original team.
The Red Sox opened a spot on their 40-man roster when they released left-handed pitcher Henry Owens earlier this month but they did not make a selection in the major league portion of the draft. Only 15 teams did make a selection and none of the unprotected players from the Red Sox organization were taken.
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The Triple-A phase of the draft saw the Red Sox take a pair of prospects. Right-handed pitcher Andrew Ferguson was selected from the Kansas City Royals with the 22nd pick in Round One, while center fielder Luke Tendler was selected from the Texas Rangers with the 38th pick in Round Two.
Ferguson owns a 3.38 ERA throughout a minor league career where he has bounced between the rotation and bullpen. The highest level he has reached is Double-A, where he made one start in 2016, allowing one run over five innings.
Tendler spent the 2017 season at the Double-A level in the Rangers organization. He hit .245/.315/.405 with 13 home runs in 113 games.
Players selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft are not required to remain on a particular roster. These players typically only serve as cheap organizational depth and rarely go on to have significant careers in the big leagues.
In other words, don’t expect Ferguson or Tendler to be getting a call-up to Fenway Park anytime soon.
Next: Five free agents to avoid
These minor league players aren’t the flashy additions Red Sox fans are pining for but the winter is far from over. Stay tuned for more insight on potential trade or free agency moves!