The Rule 5 Draft Protection Date Is Upon Us - Is There Anyone The Brewers Will Protect?

[CheezWizHed]

On 11/17/2025 at 4:29 PM, Joseph Zarr said:

I tell you, if Wild Pitches; Walks; HB's with a sprinkling of occasionally magnificent sliders and the seldom lights out 1-2-3 outing touching 99-101 on the gun was a coveted skill set...Yerlin Rodriguez would be the first person protected in all of MLB. As is, he remains our coveted untamable wild stallion.

Excellent!

[Ro Mueller]

I don’t really the downside in selecting injured RHP Brandon Birdsell and converting him away from the dark side:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, Ro Mueller said:

I don’t really the downside in selecting injured RHP Brandon Birdsell and converting him away from the dark side:

 

I didn't realize the Cubbies left him unprotected. That's very interesting. And, tho I do consider Him absolutely roster-able on pure talent alone, I do believe a willing MLB team would still have to roster Him for 90-Days (please correct me if my thinking is wrong here) before the season ending IL placement. SO, said team would obviously have to get creative. 

[Ro Mueller]

48 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I didn't realize the Cubbies left him unprotected. That's very interesting. And, tho I do consider Him absolutely roster-able on pure talent alone, I do believe a willing MLB team would still have to roster Him for 90-Days (please correct me if my thinking is wrong here) before the season ending IL placement. SO, said team would obviously have to get creative. 

I think he’d be on the 40-man from December to late February, then on the 60-day injured list til September, spend maybe a few active days on the MLB roster in September (or let him do MILB rehab), then need to do the remaining balance of 90 days on the active roster to start the 2027 season. Not an expert though.

[CheeseheadInQC]

If you’re looking at hitters, what about Cameron Cauley from Texas? Really fast up the middle defender. He finished strong and the strikeouts ticked down last year. Was one of a small group of prospects Fangraphs had listed as must protects who weren’t.

[Joseph Zarr]

57 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

If you’re looking at hitters, what about Cameron Cauley from Texas? Really fast up the middle defender. He finished strong and the strikeouts ticked down last year. Was one of a small group of prospects Fangraphs had listed as must protects who weren’t.

All I know is this year I suddenly have found myself wanting ALL the Dudes.

Let's grab Him too! 😅

He's an intriguing player for sure and ended his season with a 2 HR one hit shy of the cycle performance. Including this walk-off tater:

I know previously the K woes and his throwing issues were the primary concerns. No clue how the throwing has evolved. I only watch Frisco once in a blue moon during the Minor League season (less than I used to with Antoine Kelly no longer in the Rangers org).

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

I think he’d be on the 40-man from December to late February, then on the 60-day injured list til September, spend maybe a few active days on the MLB roster in September (or let him do MILB rehab), then need to do the remaining balance of 90 days on the active roster to start the 2027 season. Not an expert though.

This AI assist lends me to believe a team could actually stash a Rule 5 drafted player on the IL all season long and punt the minimum 90-Day active until the next season (assuming he fulfilled 40-Man roster status, obviously)

the R

[Ro Mueller]

Thomas Nestico highlights 14 potential selections in the upcoming Rule 5 draft on December 10: