The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings keep humming along, and the next scheduled step in the process is the highly anticipated Rule 5 Draft. And if you’re wondering how to watch the Rule 5 Draft, we’ve got you covered. But first, here are the rules and draft order.
What is the Rule 5 Draft
Held each December, the Rule 5 Draft allows clubs to select certain non-40 man roster players from other teams. The idea is to get players opportunities on other teams they may not be getting from their current squad.
Here’s MLB’s explanation of (and some rules for) the event:
Clubs draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season. Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.
Not every club will make a selection, but those that do pick a player must pay $100,000 to the club from which said player was selected. Rule 5 Draft picks are assigned directly to the drafting club’s 26-man roster and must be placed on outright waivers in order to be removed from the 26-man roster in the subsequent season.
Should the player clear waivers, he must be offered back to his previous team for $50,000 and can be outrighted to the Minors only if his original club does not wish to reacquire him. A Rule 5 Draft pick can be placed on the Major League injured list, but he must be active for a minimum of 90 days to avoid being subject to the aforementioned roster restrictions in the next campaign.
Notable Rule 5 Draft Picks
Although the Rule 5 Draft necessarily features players that MLB teams are willing to risk losing, that doesn’t mean they are total non-factors. In fact, plenty of stars have been made available in the Rule 5 Draft, whether they were selected or not.
At MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo put together a list of the best Rule 5 Draft picks of the past decade, and I bet you’d be surprised how much value can be extracted from this institution. And again, that’s not even including the people that were made available, but not picked (like Willson Contreras for one high-profile example).
How to Watch the Rule 5 Draft
Finally! An answer on how to watch the Rule 5 Draft.
The 2023 MLB Rule 5 Draft will be streamed live on MLB.com at 1:00 pm CT on Wednesday, December 6.
Rule 5 Draft Order
As mentioned above, the teams will draft in reverse order of the standings from the previous season. That means the Oakland Athletics will select first overall and the Atlanta Braves will round out the order.
- Oakland Athletics
- Kansas City Royals
- Colorado Rockies
- Chicago White Sox
- Washington Nationals
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Los Angeles Angels
- New York Mets
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Boston Red Sox
- San Francisco Giants
- Cincinnati Reds
- San Diego Padres
- New York Yankees
- Chicago Cubs
- Miami Marlins
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Minnesota Twins
- Seattle Mariners
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Texas Rangers
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Houston Astros
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Baltimore Orioles
- Atlanta Braves