{"id":5270,"date":"2012-11-20T10:03:57","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T15:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=5270"},"modified":"2013-10-06T10:34:24","modified_gmt":"2013-10-06T14:34:24","slug":"nats-2012-rule-5-protection-analysis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=5270","title":{"rendered":"Nats 2012 Rule 5 Protection Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is Nathan Karns a 40-man roster addition candidate ahead of the rule-5 draft? Photo Potomac Nationals official via milb.com<\/p><\/div>\n

In part I on this topic yesterday, we talked about the Nats Rule 5 draft history. \u00a0Today we’ll talk about Parts II and III: who the Nats may think about protecting ahead of this year’s Rule 5 draft, and what the team may be seeking if they participated and drafted a player or two in the Rule 5 draft themselves.<\/p>\n

Part II<\/span>: Nationals Rule-5 Draft Protection Candidates.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I kvetched a little bit about this topic<\/a> in this space earlier this off-season, talking about the lack of roster space for the upcoming Rule 5 draft. \u00a0I suspected that as a result of MLB deals given to guys like Anthony Rendon<\/strong> and Matthew Purke<\/strong>, in addition to the glut of guys we had to add mid season, we may be seeing some guys not getting protected this year that would be in other years. \u00a0As of today, the Nats 40-man roster sits at 36 players<\/a> with a bit of immediate room to spare (we could non-tender the likes of John Lannan<\/strong>, Tom Gorzelanny<\/strong> or Jesus Flores <\/strong>(speaking of Rule 5 additions) in a pinch, and I think Carlos Rivero<\/strong> may be imminently DFA’d), but we also have several 25-man roster spots departing via free agency that need to be filled, quickly filling back in those empty spots. \u00a0So, perhaps the issue isn’t as bad as I thought it might be.<\/p>\n

That being said, here’s a look at some of our Rule 5 eligible guys that may warrant protection. \u00a0For “official” opinions here’s Mark Zuckerman<\/strong>‘s Rule5 post<\/a>, along with Adam Kilgore<\/strong>‘s version of the same analysis<\/a>. \u00a0This is a combination of first-time eligible guys for the 2012 draft (mostly, guys who were college junior draftees from 2009 or high school draftees in 2008), prior year eligible guys who have suddenly worked their way onto the radar, and any International FA signing from 2008 or before (they are treated the same way as high school age draftees). \u00a0Working off a list that Luke Erickson<\/strong> posted LAST november<\/a>, along with his post on the same topic this week<\/a>, and of course referencing the two great nats farm system resources maintained by “SpringfieldFan” (and formerly by Brian Oliver<\/strong>): the Nats Draft Tracker<\/a> and the Nats Big Board<\/a>, here’s some thoughts on protection candidates:<\/p>\n

Stronger Candidates to protect<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n