The 2024 Rule 5 draft will take place this afternoon, starting at 1pm Central time, at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. This post will be updated as picks are made or reports of picks come in. The first pick has already been reported by Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline (Bluesky link), which you can see below.
As a refresher, the Rule 5 draft is a way for players potentially talented enough for the big leagues but blocked by their current clubs to find opportunities elsewhere. Any players that were 18 and under at the time of their original signing and have played five professional seasons, and any players who signed at 19 years of age or older at signing that now have four professional seasons, who are not on a club’s 40-man roster are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft.
Though the amateur (Rule 4) draft now has a lottery to determine the selection order, the Rule 5 draft still goes the old-fashioned way of reverse order of standings from the season that just ended. Clubs need to have an open 40-man roster spot in order to make a pick but aren’t obligated to make a selection on their turn. If they do make a pick, they will have to pay $100K to the team they select from. The selected players must stay on the active roster (or injured list) for the entire 2025 season or else be placed on waivers. If they clear waivers, they must be offered back to their original team. They cannot be optioned to the minors.
Last year’s edition saw some key players change clubs. The A’s took Mitch Spence from the Yankees with the top pick and kept him all year. Justin Slaten was plucked from the Rangers by the Mets and then traded to the Red Sox. Players like Anthony Santander and Ryan Pressly have been notable picks in other recent years while guys like George Bell and Roberto Clemente are found deeper in the history books.
Here is this year’s order…
- White Sox: RHP Shane Smith (Brewers) (per Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline on Bluesky)
- Rockies:
- Marlins:
- Angels:
- Athletics:
- Nationals:
- Blue Jays:
- Pirates:
- Reds:
- Rangers:
- Giants:
- Rays:
- Red Sox:
- Twins:
- Cardinals:
- Cubs:
- Mariners:
- Royals:
- Tigers:
- Astros:
- Mets:
- D-backs:
- Braves:
- Orioles:
- Guardians:
- Padres:
- Brewers:
- Yankees:
- Phillies:
- Dodgers: