Our Annual Preview - Which Brewers Farmhands Qualify for the Rule 5 Draft or Minor League Free Agency?

[wallus]

45 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Well Luke Adams sure showed me with his performance today lol

 

[BrewCrew8675309]

12 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

No need for them to "re-sign" (no decision to be made by the players), the Brewers maintain their rights regardless for several seasons.

Good to know; thank you for that.

[Jim French Stepstool]

21 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Well Luke Adams sure showed me with his performance today lol

He sure did🏋️‍♂️🏋️‍♀️🏋️‍♂️ lol.

I think you're right about the passiveness in his approach though, and how it won't play at the highest level. Thing is, I remember some of the younger power bats from the Melvin years that were in the opposite camp---HR potential but high K rates with very few walks. My gut tells me an approach like Adams' can be adjusted/amended to work vs MLB pitching easier than the opposite. But I also think his name is going to come up quite a bit when the phones start to heat up so stay tuned I guess.

[JoeyWiemerTruther]

Jett and Adams I think are very likely protected as I think teams would actually pick them up but Jett is likely on the 40 man before the season even ends anyways. Maybe even Adams at this rate. Don’t think he’s really a 3B option but he’s likely a long term Andrew Vaughn injury away from being on the 40 man and also 26 man now. But obviously don’t want any injuries. Also the best long term RHB 1B option in the system currently assuming Vaughn is traded after this season or walks in FA next season. Out of the pitchers I think Kuehner or Childers might have the best shot cause I think they could be solid MLB relievers. But they’re iffy in terms of actually being worthy of being protected. I don’t think anyone else is really worthy of being protected as I don’t think they’d get picked off by anyone. Maybe 1-2 guys since the Brewers depth in their system is the best in the MLB currently.

Keep in mind there was only 13 rule 5 draft selections last season. 15 the year before that. Most teams didn’t even use it to select anyone and just opted for keeping their own internal options. So you can probably bet most of the guys people would worry about getting selected would just be passed over and still be Brewers prospects at the end of the day. As a Brock Wilken stan I’m confident he’ll be back in Nashville next year unless traded before then. Nobody’s gonna take him in the R5 draft.

I could see Wichrowski, M. Rodriguez or O’Rae as guys picked off by teams other than the ones I said above but the Brewers don’t really have a good reason to protect these guys either.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

I see Jett being blocked and ultimately traded as a headliner this deadline

 

[LouisEly]

The one I see as the most valuable to keep is Wagoner.  He's been throwing upper 90's and it has not been uncommon to see him go 2 innings.  Relief pitchers are possibly the easiest to stash, and anyone throwing 98/99 is going to be given plenty of opportunities to succeed/fail.  He's come back strong from injury and this year so far is at 18 IP (13 G, so several multi-inning outings), 10 H, 4 BB, 26K.  I think he's a lock.

Like others, the issues with Williams and Adams revolve around defensive homes.  I could see Adams as that backup corner IF, not good enough to play regularly at 3B but maybe good enough to play there in emergency.  As others have said, more than likely trade candidates, particularly considering that teams place more value on players at AA and above.  Williams just hasn't hit enough, but could be taken as a backup utility IF.

I do think that Wilken's eye/depth perception issues (not something you want to broadcast, and likely HIPAA PHI anyway) have resurfaced, and wonder if he would even pass a physical with another team.

Kuehner's injury will likely keep teams away, but teams have been known to take flyers on LHP.  Holub is possible, but the numbers aren't quite as impressive as Wagoner and he's already 27 and will be 28 at the time of the Rule 5 draft.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, LouisEly said:

The one I see as the most valuable to keep is Wagoner.  He's been throwing upper 90's and it has not been uncommon to see him go 2 innings.  Relief pitchers are possibly the easiest to stash, and anyone throwing 98/99 is going to be given plenty of opportunities to succeed/fail.  He's come back strong from injury and this year so far is at 18 IP (13 G, so several multi-inning outings), 10 H, 4 BB, 26K.  I think he's a lock.

Like others, the issues with Williams and Adams revolve around defensive homes.  I could see Adams as that backup corner IF, not good enough to play regularly at 3B but maybe good enough to play there in emergency.  As others have said, more than likely trade candidates, particularly considering that teams place more value on players at AA and above.  Williams just hasn't hit enough, but could be taken as a backup utility IF.

I do think that Wilken's eye/depth perception issues (not something you want to broadcast, and likely HIPAA PHI anyway) have resurfaced, and wonder if he would even pass a physical with another team.

Kuehner's injury will likely keep teams away, but teams have been known to take flyers on LHP.  Holub is possible, but the numbers aren't quite as impressive as Wagoner and he's already 27 and will be 28 at the time of the Rule 5 draft.

Outsider of being a stud and extremely easy to root for - Wags has been a favorite of mine for awhile - there is his undeniable Rule 5 Protection worthy look. Principally, we have to protect this type of  get up - screams he can handle any scenario:

[brrosenow]

Is there a list of minor league rule 5 eligible players? Not sure how that portion works

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, brrosenow said:

Is there a list of minor league rule 5 eligible players? Not sure how that portion works

If you're Rule 5 eligible you're eligible for the minor league portion as well. Obviously you can be protected if you're put on the AAA roster but we never see the actual protected lists for the minor league portion.

[ecjimg]

On 6/25/2026 at 2:00 PM, wiguy94 said:

If you're Rule 5 eligible you're eligible for the minor league portion as well. Obviously you can be protected if you're put on the AAA roster but we never see the actual protected lists for the minor league portion.

Sooo by keeping Boeve in AA they dont have to give him a 40 man roster spot to protect him? They would just promote him to AAA in the offseason and that protects him?

[wiguy94]

12 minutes ago, ecjimg said:

Sooo by keeping Boeve in AA they dont have to give him a 40 man roster spot to protect him? They would just promote him to AAA in the offseason and that protects him?

To protect him from the Major League portion he would need to be on the 40. Being on the 40 protects you from the minor league portion as well. To protect from the minor league portion he would need to be added to the AAA roster in the offseason. 

[Jim Goulart]

Prior to the Rule 5 draft in December (let's assume there will be a Rule 5 draft given the likelihood of a lockout, but that's another story), the Brewers will set an offseason AAA roster, and there can be up to 38 names on that list. We never get to see the specifics of that roster (it's actually a "reserve list"), it's not like it gets updated on the Nashville roster page, for instance.

Any players from the list atop this thread that get placed on that AAA paper roster would be eligible to be plucked in the big league phase of Rule 5, but not the minor league phase. And the Brewers won't put 38 names on the list, they will leave room should they wish to grab players of their own in the minor league phase.

Baseball America on the minor league phase specifically:

"There are no eligibility rules that have to be maintained in the minor league phase. The player is drafted, the player’s old organization is paid $24,500 and immediately the player becomes a member of his new organization. Almost all of the players picked in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft are viewed as useful organizational players for their new team, but occasionally one of these players does find his way to the majors with his new organization. The top player picked recently in the MiLB Rule 5 draft is the Brewers’ selection of Isaac Collins from the Rockies in 2022."

[Jim Goulart]

Removed Biloxi OF Dasan Brown from the minor league free agent list in the initial post above, released on 6/30, wishing him well.

[Jim Goulart]

Removed Nashville RHP Garrett Stallings from the minor league free agent list in the initial post above, added to the MLB roster on 6/30.

[BrewersRice]

How many spots do you all see as being open on the 40-man at the end of the year?

I feel like that might be a big factor in figuring out who we would hypothetically keep.
In order of preference for me: Jett, Adams, Wag, Kuehner, Manfredi, Boeve, O-Rae. 

Who is the Lefty Hitting 1B next year? My pick would be Boeve over Burke- but it would be an interesting battle.  So far I think the only thing preventing Boeve from getting plucked is that he is a little light in the Power area for a 1B.  You would think someone would get traded from the 3b/1b ilk (Wilken, Adams, Boeve, Burke), and someone who is a Middle IF (Pratt, Jett, O'Rae,) , probably a SP that is further down in the system or unavailable this year. (Owens/Galindez/Kuehner/Fitzpatrick?) and possibly and OF (Lockridge, Perkins, Mitchell, Frelick) - I dont see them trading Mitchell if his power and health keep the current trend.  And with Murphy's- affection for Sal--I'm not sure if its possible he gets moved, but I feel like now might be a sell high opportunity

[LouisEly]

I think I may have been sleeping on Mark Manfredi and Matt Wood.  I totally overlooked Wood on that list.

Anyone have a recent scouting report on Manfredi?  59 K in 36 IP this year is pretty impressive for a LHP, his walk rate has come down, and LHP are one of the easiest to stash in a major league bullpen.

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, LouisEly said:

I think I may have been sleeping on Mark Manfredi and Matt Wood.  I totally overlooked Wood on that list.

Anyone have a recent scouting report on Manfredi?  59 K in 36 IP this year is pretty impressive for a LHP, his walk rate has come down, and LHP are one of the easiest to stash in a major league bullpen.

With the way LH bullpen guys have been dropping like flies this year, I suspect Manfredi is on their radar not only to be protected but perhaps even called on this year. It's not really surprising that he was promoted to AAA (he's 26) but it IS a pleasant surprise to me that as you said the command has gotten much better. I believe his best offspeed is the slider, which he tries to get the majority of his chase on. Along with getting the walks under control, he's allowed only 3 HR in his last 96 innings going back to the beginning of '25. The FO has to like that. If Rom and/or Koenig have issues & Hall still isn't ready it looks like Manfredi or Zastryzny would be next up from the left side.

I don't think Wood will ever be better than acceptable defensively but he has an idea at the plate & has some power. I think he'll find his way on someone's roster eventually but they'll probably have to flip the coin & bank on him not being selected this winter.

[Jim French Stepstool]

3 hours ago, BrewersRice said:

How many spots do you all see as being open on the 40-man at the end of the year?

I feel like that might be a big factor in figuring out who we would hypothetically keep.
In order of preference for me: Jett, Adams, Wag, Kuehner, Manfredi, Boeve, O-Rae. 

Who is the Lefty Hitting 1B next year? My pick would be Boeve over Burke- but it would be an interesting battle.  So far I think the only thing preventing Boeve from getting plucked is that he is a little light in the Power area for a 1B.  You would think someone would get traded from the 3b/1b ilk (Wilken, Adams, Boeve, Burke), and someone who is a Middle IF (Pratt, Jett, O'Rae,) , probably a SP that is further down in the system or unavailable this year. (Owens/Galindez/Kuehner/Fitzpatrick?) and possibly and OF (Lockridge, Perkins, Mitchell, Frelick) - I dont see them trading Mitchell if his power and health keep the current trend.  And with Murphy's- affection for Sal--I'm not sure if its possible he gets moved, but I feel like now might be a sell high opportunity

I've always liked Boeve, but I think the organization pretty solidly puts Burke ahead of him. Perhaps the lack of HR pop hurts Boeve, but a bigger factor might be his defense. He still hasn't found a fulltime home but I can understand them moving him around because as you alluded to, being a good hitter but not a big HR guy doesn't exactly help you as a 1B. I imagine as the phones heat up this month his name will be brought up.

[biedergb]

5 hours ago, LouisEly said:

I think I may have been sleeping on Mark Manfredi and Matt Wood.

I mostly agree with @Jim French Stepstool

For the MLB portion of the rule 5 draft they have to be MLB players, so position players have to be much more advanced, and I just don't see Wood being advanced enough to occupy a spot, so he is safe.

Manfredi is tricky, like all relievers, they are the easiest to stash, but I just don't see him as consistent enough to warrant big league innings for most of the year.  I hope he proves me wrong this year, but Jett and Adams could be big leaguers this year if there was a need, so a team would roll the dice on either one as an IF and pinch hitter and occasional starter.

Wagoner is tough until he hits AAA, but with that velocity he could deserve a spot, as velo guys are the ones teams will roll the dice on. Manfredi - with the number of LHP in the 'pen that the team could use (Hall, Ashby, Rob Z, Koenig plus Fitzpatrick if/when healthy, and Zerpa hopefully back sometime next year) Manfredi could be a trade candidate to give him a shot.

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, biedergb said:

I mostly agree with @Jim French Stepstool

For the MLB portion of the rule 5 draft they have to be MLB players, so position players have to be much more advanced, and I just don't see Wood being advanced enough to occupy a spot, so he is safe.

Manfredi is tricky, like all relievers, they are the easiest to stash, but I just don't see him as consistent enough to warrant big league innings for most of the year.  I hope he proves me wrong this year, but Jett and Adams could be big leaguers this year if there was a need, so a team would roll the dice on either one as an IF and pinch hitter and occasional starter.

Wagoner is tough until he hits AAA, but with that velocity he could deserve a spot, as velo guys are the ones teams will roll the dice on. Manfredi - with the number of LHP in the 'pen that the team could use (Hall, Ashby, Rob Z, Koenig plus Fitzpatrick if/when healthy, and Zerpa hopefully back sometime next year) Manfredi could be a trade candidate to give him a shot.

Fitzpatrick just underwent TJ surgery, so he's done until later in '27 at the earliest.

Hopefully good things happen from here on out re Koenig, Hall, Rom, Rob Z re health/effectiveness & we won't need a decision re Manfredi until the off-season. But his command improvement since moving to AAA does intrigue me.