assuming he doesn’t get offered back (which I accept as quite a stretch), the Cardinals, who are currently looking for cheap starting pitching, traded Anthony Reyes for nothing? Nice.

for Darren O’Day

Nothing overpowering, but a control guy with a good sinker. 13-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 25 starts at Class AA last season and 0-1, 2,38 in two starts at Class AAA. Twins like guys like this. Could be a nice addition.

He was considered a future closer when he came over from the Twins, put up so-so numbers this season for the Rays, then they let him get taken so they could take some other guy from the ChiSox?

i like this guy. if he can improve his walk rate, he’s a major league quality starter. or at least as much of one as paul byrd ever was.

this is a great selection.

The Astros website is reporting that the Orioles/Astros cash deal was in place before the Orioles made their pick . . . which points to the fact that the Astros preferred Palmisano to Skelton . . . now given my admittedly small knowledge on the minors I had at least HEARD of Skelton, but not Palmisano, can anyone give me a comparison and maybe a little insight into what the Astros brass was thinking? Thanks.

how Santos was eligible? It was his first year in the minors.

He’s a minor league spot starter/long man type. Has an array of pitches, but nothing better than average. Maybe the Brewers call him up for the pen, but eh, I’m sort of glad that he’s gone as I’d rather see some other guys get the innings in our system. The Cubs weak system had more than enough guys to replace him.

I mean “I’m an idiot”

I meant the AAA phase

Every team has a “reserve list” for the major league part of the Rule 5 draft. It so happens that that reserve list is the 40-man roster. Players not on it can be drafted, and you know the drill.

Teams also have expanded reserve lists of, I think, 70 and 100 players. Players not on the 70-man reserve list can be bought for $12000. Players not on the 100-man reserve list can be bought for $4000. Those players immediately become contractual property of their new teams— there’s no “offering them back.”

The “AAA/AA phase” terminology is confusing, meaningless and deceptive and I wish they’d get rid of it.

hes a bat-only guy who hit like a 2b-man in AAA.

But I love Iorg and would have loved to see the Braves take a shot on him, but they never seem to make Rule 5 picks.

As there are few bats ever available in the Rule 5 draft outside of OFers and speedy MI’s who have no power. These are the types of guys that are a dime a dozen and that is why teams do not mind losing one if they had to make a choice between someone at that position or a more rarer position. That being said, there were a number of successful bullpen arms that I was a bit surprised were not taken. He does not have ideal stuff, but I am surprised a team could not find a use for Chris Nicoll. He posted great numbers after converting to the bullpen. At age 24 at AA (not exactly old for the league), he struck out 11.3/9 Innings and walked 1.6/9 innings