Anthony Recker— catcher with big-time power but mediocre defense and poor contact skills. Could be the catching version of Russell Branyan.

Justin Sellers— great glove for a middle infielder, could be a utility/Alex Cora type.

Brad Kilby— need a second lefty for your bullpen? He’s as good as anyone out there.

Mike Costanzo is the only notable left unprotected.

Cashman blew it:

He left Alan Horne and J. Brent Cox off, yet Cody Ransom and Shelley Duncan still have spots.

with Kam Loe on his way to Japan and Wes Littleton dfa, less that expected is avabile from the Rangers in the rule 5 draft. Among the most notable or a fairly non-notable bunch are Redro Strop, Ben Harrison, Emerson Frostad adn Ian Gac. Other than Strop whom the Newberg Report’s Scott Lucas points out may be somewhat attractive because he is injured, I think anyone being picked from the Rangers is a considerable long shot.

On a related not, I am sure that many of you heard that John Mayberry Jr. was traded for Greg Golson, who was added to the Rangers 40. One somewhat failed 1st round tools player for another, not surprising to deal JMJ, rather surprised that they did it for a clearly not ready for the majors outfielder who has to be kept on the 40.

that’s a surprise, I can’t imagine he won’t be taken.

Also surprised that the Rays would protect Ryu, Salas, and Dan Johnson.

The Cardinals left McCormick off the 40 man roster, understandably.

The former supplemental 1st round pick from Baylor can still throw gas with a great curveball, he just can’t enough strikes and has arm problems.
I think a team could take him, stick him in the pen and either get innings from him throwing mid 90s with maybe a little better control for just one inning or they’ll stash him on the DL for most of the year just to get him in their system.
He’d be worth a spring training look, IMO.

Nate Spears – Been around forever, but isn’t old. Had a solid AA campaign this year. Possible utility player. I think there’s a shot he gets taken, although I thought the same about Diory Hernandez last year.

Donald Veal – Never found the control. That said, still a solid curve by most accounts. If he still has his fastball velo, then maybe someone thinks they can fix the mechanical issues with him and that he can be a power pen lefty. There were some reports, I think, late in the year, that said his velocity had dipped. I think he gets taken.

Edward Campusano – Lefty pen arm. There’s a chance. Detroit took him a couple years back.

Russ Canzler – Had a strong finish to the year. Doubt someone takes him, but it’s not impossible.

Jesse Estrada – Eh, I doubt it, but I wanted to get 5 in there.

Cleveland has 3 that will garner some looks

Lofgren – A lefty starter who was inching up the prospect list yet had a terrible 2008 AA and AFL season. He needs some mechanical work. Yet, someone might stash him in as a lefty specialist in the pen.

Brown – Won the minor league player of the year in Carolina and Eastern leagues. Yet, is coming off a mediocre 2008 season in Buffalo. He is a 1b with more of an average than pop.

Head – A 2nd round draft pick that had a bad 2006 and 2007 season. Yet, hit .290 or so in Akron this year. He can play 1b or LF and got some pop into his swing late this year.

Some others maybe Newsome (righty specialist) and Wagner (hard throwing reliever).

he looked like a solid fast track type yrs ago

Can someone tell me the day of the draft and the draft order? How do they determine the draft order? Same as the the rule 4 draft?

Let me ask the flip side of the question—what teams have roster space to draft a rule V and who is likely to pick up somebody?

Linky

When weighing the risk of a player getting taken, it can be counterintuitive. It would seem logical that the best way to protect a player would be to put him on the 40-man roster. That is often, but not always, the case. Sometimes, for players who are borderline roster considerations, you may be safer by leaving him OFF the 40-man. The reason is that if he’s taken in the Rule V, he has to stay in the Majors or else be offered back. However, if for some reason (add a free agent, add someone through trade, need someone during the season due to injury) you need to add a player to the 40-man at a later date, you may be forced to outright someone to make room. When you outright a first year roster player, he still has all of his minor league options, so teams can claim him and send him right into their minor league system. In short, it’s much easier to lose a player trying to remove him from the 40-man than it is to lose him via the Rule V draft.