Maybe the Reds paid the Cubs back for the Josh Hamilton favor.
OK, that's probably a little over the top. But in an example of how this sort of thing works ("you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"), the Reds drafted David Patton, a 24-year-old righthanded reliever, from the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A team at Colorado Springs.
The Reds then dealt him to the Cubs for "a cash consideration". As for any Rule 5 draftee, I believe he'll have to stay on the 25-man roster all year or be returned to the Rockies (someone please confirm this for me).
It's a low-risk move; Patton had 87 K in 50 innings at High-A Modesto in the California League. He was added to the 40-man roster, which now stands at 37 (I'd expect Nate Spears, who wasn't taken in the Rule 5 draft, to be added to the 40-man soon). Patton made nine appearances in the Arizona Fall League with an unsightly 9.24 ERA, allowing 22 hits in 12.2 innings.
0 recs | 49 comments
dump him back
to the Reds
Cubs and Hawks fan - December 11, 2008
Why would they add Spears to the 40 man roster now?
Won’t they wait ’til Sprint Training and only add him if he makes the team?
Isn’t the only reason to add a minor league player to the 40 man roster in the off season is to protect them from the rule 5 draft?
cowsarecool220 - December 11, 2008
True, I guess.
Why leave the three open spaces, though?
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
That is what I don't get.
Maybe they wanted the roster flexibility?
Once you add a player, it’s difficult to sneak them through waivers. Also, I believe you can only outright a player once. If you do so the second time, I think they can become a free agent.
cowsarecool220 - December 11, 2008
because the off season isn't over
Who knows what will happen, but there is no benefit to adding Spears now versus adding him any time during this season.
dmlichte - December 11, 2008
Al,
You don’t want to add someone to the 40-man until you have to. By taking the chance on leaving him exposed in Rule 5, Hendry “bought” another year for him in which none of his options will be burned — unless they need him, call him up, then send him down again.
Open spaces on the 40 isn’t a bad thing, it’s actually a great thing. One or two spots might go to FAs and the other can be left open until a need arises.
DeRoMyHero - December 11, 2008
True.
Presuming Spears has a chance to make the ML team in spring training — and I think he does — they took a real chance leaving him off.
However, now that he’s still a Cub, I expect him to get a spring training invite, at the very least.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
If the Cubs trade
a middle infielder, I think Spears will be on the roster when we break camp in April. Otherwise, he’s in Iowa.
Josh Timmers - December 11, 2008
this
is an example of how slow the offseason has been when a Rule 5 draftee gets his own entire blog
BCB1987 - December 11, 2008
Well, it's actual real news instead of rumors.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
I'm assuming you mean...
…“his own entire blog POST.” That said, if Patton does have a blog, I’ll certainly check it out. It’s not like there’s much else goin’ on.
daver - December 11, 2008
You mean, you haven't read
his blog?
Oh…maybe…wrong guy….
PurpleLineToWrigley - December 11, 2008
That's a good example of a blog...
…that appears to be about nothing whatsoever.
daver - December 11, 2008
again
this offseason is so boring that my exclusion of the term “post” needed to be addressed
all things considered, thank you, i will remember the correct terminology for my future additions to blog POSTS
BCB1987 - December 11, 2008
This isn't a post. It's a comment.
daver - December 11, 2008
Low-risk move
I agree. I don’t see Patton making the club, but he is a low-risk option that won’t cost the Cubs much in the long run. Not sure how all this works, but it will be interesting to see what the Cubs do with the last two roster spots. Al, I know you think Spears will be added. Wondering if they are keeping them open for trade/FA flexibility?
Tangled Up In Blue - December 11, 2008
Possibly...
… but that’s a lot of open spots. Most teams don’t have more than one.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
That's what I can't figure out.
Why keep so many spots open? Does it benefit them in any way? All I can think of is that they were open to see if anyone caught their attention today. Now that the Rule 5 is over they can fill those spots, as you suggested, with players such as Spears.
Tangled Up In Blue - December 11, 2008
We'll see if that happens.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
If they sign a Free Agent
Such as Abreu or Rollins etc, they would not have to make a move to open up a spot on the 40 man roster. That might be another reason that they kept some spots open.
Archie - December 11, 2008
How come no post
about Donald Veal being drafted from us?
Laven - December 11, 2008
It's being covered in the Rule 5 draft FanPost.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
Did not see that
Thanks
Laven - December 11, 2008
It's mentioned...
…here. And I guess this answers my question about whether anyone “tried the Veal.” The Pirates did.
daver - December 11, 2008
FWIW...
… the Pirates once had a pitcher named Bob Veale.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
...and he was delicious...
Hey, with his career numbers, he’s be pulling in $12-15M a year now…
Zeke - December 11, 2008
Where did you get that he was playing at AAA?
He’s played A+ ball at Modesto for the Rockies. He’s never played AAA ball before.
Kind of a low prospect. His numbers aren’t that bad, with a 3.43 FIP and .353 BABIP; but at 24, he shouldn’t still be playing at A+
NittanyCub - December 11, 2008
His numbers remind me of the numbers Ceda put up in A ball.
cowsarecool220 - December 11, 2008
He was drafted off the AAA roster...
… according to the official press release:
I did not at any time in the post say that he PLAYED Triple-A ball.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
I guess when you say that he's
I should take it that he’s never played there before, ever.
NittanyCub - December 11, 2008
Well, I should have said "roster".
Sorry for the confusion.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
So they have to keep a kid whos never been above A ball on the 25 man roster all year?
seems like stretch
bren - December 11, 2008
Seems like a situation where the Cubs
could send Cincinnati (or Colorado, I’m not sure which one it would go to) a minor leaguer or cash to keep him should they send him down.
Bill Potter - December 11, 2008
It'd go to the Rockies.
That’s where Patton returns if he doesn’t make the team.
Same thing happened last year, when the Rays drafted Tim Lahey and sent him to the Cubs. Lahey went back to Minnesota, not Tampa.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
That's what I figured the more I thought about it
Cincinnati did nothing more than make the pick for the Cubs.
Bill Potter - December 11, 2008
So they can keep this kid in the minors provided they send someone to Colorado?
bren - December 11, 2008
Yes.
They can’t just “send someone”, they have to make a trade. But it can be done.
Al Yellon - December 11, 2008
Either a player
or the ever popular “cash considerations.” Either way, they would have to agree upon the player or amount with Colorado.
Bill Potter - December 11, 2008
Only if he clears waivers first.
DeRoMyHero - December 11, 2008
AFL stats
are close to worthless, IMO. So that doesn’t bother me.
I do like that he pitched well last season in the notorious hitter-friendly Cal League.
Josh Timmers - December 11, 2008
Patton, Peavy, what's the difference?
SonnyJ9 - December 11, 2008
About 18 wins
And a (given health) likely lock back into the playoffs.
lamentir - December 11, 2008
Thanks for the laugh
I needed that.
jbowling13 - December 11, 2008
One e, a, v, and a why
NittanyCub - December 11, 2008
Rule V rules
When a team selects a player in the Rule V draft they “buy him” from his former team for $50,000. If they choose to try to option the player in question, the season following the draft, they must first offer him back to his former club for $25,000. Of course the former club does not have to take the player back, In 2010 Patton will be able to be recalled and optioned like any other player. A perfect example of this happened last season. The Reds left left handed relief pitcher Carlos Guevara unprotected, Florida drafted him and traded him to San Diego (much like the Patton deal this year), Guevara was pretty terrible in his stint with the Padres. The Padres decided he was not worth the roster spot, and offered him back to Cincinnati for $25K. The Reds declined and the Padres optioned (or sent him outright) to AAA.
justin007000 - December 11, 2008
A Couple of Things...
… first, it’s Rule 5, not Rule V, right?
…second, the player has to clear waivers before they can option back to AAA.
This happened last year with the Cubs and Lahey. We thought that Lahey could be the PTBNL in the Craig Monroe deal last November. The Rays selected him from the Twins, traded him to us for cash ($500K, I believe), offered him back to the Twins, but the Phils claimed him.
initram - December 12, 2008
What's the difference between writing "Rule 5" and "Rule V"?
They mean the same thing…
DeRoMyHero - December 12, 2008
Officially, it's Rule "5".
They go by numbers, not Roman numerals.
Al Yellon - December 12, 2008
zzz.....
zzzz….prefer rumors…..zzz…..
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - December 11, 2008
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