The Rule 5 Draft is an institution that has existed in MLB for quite some time and provides many players on the fringes of rosters with an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Historically, there have been quite a few excellent players who have been selected in of the Rule 5 Draft, including Johan Santana, Dan Uggla and Shane Victorino.
However, due to the MLB lockout of recent months, the Major League portion of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft that was supposed to be held last December was forcibly delayed. Its future was unclear throughout the offseason but more clarity recently came.
According to Zach Buchanan of The Athletic, the Major League phase of the annual Rule 5 Draft was canceled:
It may have been reported elsewhere already, but my understanding is the Rule 5 draft has been canceled for this year.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) March 10, 2022
The Rule 5 Draft provides some form of parity in the sport as teams are allowed to pluck under-appreciated talent from other teams that they believe they can make a part of their organizations.
Many under-achieving teams use the Rule 5 Draft as a means to get players on cost-controlled contracts and because the draft will not take place, some of the bottom-feeding teams will be missing out on talent.
Playoff clubs typically do not take players in the draft as they protect the players they want to keep on their 40-man rosters beforehand.
If a player is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, they must stay on the team that picks them unless they are released, at which point they would be offered back to their original team.
The Dodgers added Jacob Amaya, Jorbit Vivas, Eddys Leonard, Michael Grove and James Outman to their 40-man roster by the deadline in November. The team went on to select Kekai Rios, Carson Fulmer and Jon Duplantier during the Minor League rounds of the Rule 5 Draft.
New MLB CBA features expanded postseason and more
With the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) agreed upon and ratified by team owners and the Players Association (MLBPA), it brought with it a universal designated hitter, expanded postseason, maximum on number of times a players can be optioned per season, and more changes.
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