Red Sox: Garrett Whitlock is a rare Rule 5 success story

A look back at Red Sox Rule 5 picks and losses

The Red Sox have profited this season from baseball’s Rule 5 draft that is explained here in detail. The Reader Digest version is it is designed to prevent a team from stockpiling young players. Prospects who are not protected by a 40-man roster spot are subject to being drafted. History shows that success is as rare as a lucid article by yours truly. The last draft was the exception.

The Red Sox pounced on Garrett Whitlock from the Yankees – which makes the irony even more delicious. Whitlock may just be the team’s most valuable pitcher. Whitlock – naturally is a rookie – and could just be the recipient of a pile of well-deserved votes for American League Rookie of the Year. Eventually, He could be a valuable piece in the rotation in the future.

The great target for Whitlock is a lefty that was one of the best until his arm exploded. Johan Santana was a two-time Cy Young winner, three times topped the AL in strikeouts, and three times topped the charts in ERA while with the Twins and later the Mets. The case history actually has Santana selected by the Marlins and then traded to the Twins.

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The Red Sox in the previous Rule 5 draft selected Jonathan Arauz who hit .250 in 25 games for the shortened 2020 season. Arauz is still on the 40-man roster and has seen brief duty in Boston this season. But the Red Sox also have another Rule 5 selection in their history that was quite successful – but that was indirect.

Shane Victorino was actually a two-time selection. First chosen by the Padres from the Dodgers and then return and plucked by the Phillies. The right-hand hitting Victorino was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox and was a solid contributor to the 2013 championship. Victorino won a Gold Glove that season and hit .294 with 15 home runs.

There is more to the Victorino story. The Red Sox traded Victorino to the Angels for outfielder Josh Rutledge. In the 2015 offseason, the team outrighted Rutledge who signed with the Rockies. The Red Sox picked him up via Rule 5 and he played three seasons as a reserve outfielder with Boston.

The Red Sox have also been on the short end of Rule 5. In 2012, the Twins plucked right-hand pitcher Ryan Pressly from the Red Sox. Pressly was an All-Star this season – his second selection – both as a member of the Astros. This season, Pressly is closing for the Astros and has notched 16 saves.

Lincoln Holdzkom is a bizarre and rather tragic Rule 5 pick. Holdzkom was selected by the Phillies and the Red Sox refused to take him back. Then it gets strange. Holdzkom signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox. Then it gets even stranger. Holdzkom played for team New Zealand since his father was a native New Zealander. Holdzkom was expected to be team captain and then it became tragic. Holdzkom died in a car crash. Just 33-years-old.

Scanning the list, the Red Sox had an interesting selection in 2011. They choose Marwin Gonzalez from the Cubs. What happened? They traded him the same day to the Astros for right-hand pitcher Marco Duarte. Duarte has been in the Mexican League for several seasons.

Sometimes a selected finds success elsewhere. In 2008, the Red Sox picked up right-hand pitcher Miguel Gonzalez from the Angels. Poor minor league performance was complicated by arm surgery and Gonzalez was history. Signed by Baltimore, Gonzalez eventually surfaced for the Birds and went 39-33 as a starter over four seasons.

Red Sox fans know lefty Lenny DiNardo as a color commentator/analyst for NESN and a member of the 2004 team. DiNardo was a Rule 5 pick by Boston from the Mets in 2003. DiNardo pitched for six seasons in MLB and three for the Red Sox going 1-3 with a 5.53 ERA.

The Red Sox lost lefty Javier Lopez to Arizona in the 2002 Rule 5 draft but got him back. Lopez ended up eventually with White Sox who traded him to Boston. Lopez had four solid bullpen seasons (2006-2009) with the Red Sox and picked up a ring in 2007. Rings were a thing with Lopez as he got three more with the Giants.

I am positive there are a few more stories embedded with Rule 5 picks that Boston took or Boston lost. Looking over the picks some names shout out success and others did nothing. Whitlock may just be on the path to join Santana, Victorino, and R.A. Dickey.