Zack Jones

[nicksaviking]

I forgot, and with the lack of hubub lately I'm guessing most everyone else did as well, but the Twins lost Zack Jones in the Rule 5 draft this past winter and let's just say it didn't sit well with most posters. I suggested that it may not be the end of Jones in a Twins uniform as the Brewers made two choices and it would seem that they likely wouldn't keep both.

 

Their first choice, Colin Jones has made the team. Jones on the other hand has been placed on the DL. He pitched all of 1 inning this spring, so unless his injury is season ending, I can't imagine the Brewers putting him on the 25-man right out of the gate, though I suppose a rehab outing may be allowable in this situation.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yes, they can do up to 30 days rehab. I think the Rule 5 roadmap is DL through May, June on rehab in the minors, then if you still have the flexibility, you put him on the MLB roster for July And August, then shut him down when rosters expand in September of you want too.

[old nurse]

MLB may frown upon stashing players on the dl. I don't think he would get 8 weeks of dl time.

[ken]

Blaine Boyer is holding down the spot for now

[Rosterman]

He could be on the DL for the entire season. He will draw a MLB salary. The team MUST keep him on an active roster for at least 90 days, and it could be extended into next season, so you could comfortably activate him sometime in August, keep him around thru the end of the season, and play him again as the next season opens, if you choose. Right now you weigh how much you do want him and the salary he is taking, or offer him back to the Twins for a bargain and make him a Twins problem (albeit at a minor league salary), or do a deal which allows you to keep him and option him out when he comes off the DL and gets a reduced salary then until you are ready for him. Doesn't always make a lot of sense, but for now, Jones is getting paid very well for a job he may never ever have in the future.

[Seth Stohs]

1.) I would think that the Brewers will want to keep him.

2.) If they do want to send him to AAA, I don't think the Twins would be all that excited to get him back, so I think they'd try to work out a trade. 

[nicksaviking]

1.) I would think that the Brewers will want to keep him.

2.) If they do want to send him to AAA, I don't think the Twins would be all that excited to get him back, so I think they'd try to work out a trade.

 

I've seen their bullpen, they should probably lower their threshold from "excited" to "Please God, anyone"

[Platoon]

I've seen their bullpen, they should probably lower their threshold from "excited" to "Please God, anyone"

Which BP are you referring to? Brewers? Twins?

[Thrylos]

 

1.) I would think that the Brewers will want to keep him.

2.) If they do want to send him to AAA, I don't think the Twins would be all that excited to get him back, so I think they'd try to work out a trade. 

 

Quick:

 

who would you rather have?

 

Zack Jones or Mike Strong?

[GMinTraining]

 

Quick:

 

who would you rather have?

 

Zack Jones or Mike Strong?

All Day

[Seth Stohs]

 

Quick:

 

who would you rather have?

 

Zack Jones or Mike Strong?

 

For me, probably Jones... but Jones already isn't on the 40 man roster, so at this point it's not an either-or. 

[biggentleben]

The Braves had this situation last season with Daniel Winkler, who they had on the DL all the way until about the last week of the season and now have to have on the MLB roster this season as part of their Rule 5 requirements. They also had to fulfill Andrew McKirihan's Rule 5 requirements to acquire him last season, only to have him need Tommy John this spring now that he was free of those restrictions. You can have a guy spend the entire season on the DL. Heck, he can spend multiple seasons on the DL, but you have to keep him on your MLB DL, which pays him a MLB minimum salary, and also you must still have the player active the requisite amount of days (beyond allowable rehab days) in the majors before he's allowed to go down to the minors.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

The Braves had this situation last season with Daniel Winkler, who they had on the DL all the way until about the last week of the season and now have to have on the MLB roster this season as part of their Rule 5 requirements. They also had to fulfill Andrew McKirihan's Rule 5 requirements to acquire him last season, only to have him need Tommy John this spring now that he was free of those restrictions. You can have a guy spend the entire season on the DL. Heck, he can spend multiple seasons on the DL, but you have to keep him on your MLB DL, which pays him a MLB minimum salary, and also you must still have the player active the requisite amount of days (beyond allowable rehab days) in the majors before he's allowed to go down to the minors.

Yup.  90 days active or 1 year service time, whichever comes later, to remove Rule 5 restrictions and allow you to option them.  You can replace them on the 40-man roster during the season if you 60-day DL them too.  Up to 30 days minor league rehab for pitchers.

 

I think TJ surgery guys are probably good targets now -- you can stick them on the DL for as long as you need, and you probably have a ton of discretion about if/when to activate them.

 

Had he not been protected, Melotakis would have been an ideal candidate for my optimal Rule 5 plan: April/May on the DL (60-day if you need the 40-man spot during that time), June on a minor league rehab assignment, July and August on the MLB roster if you still want the guy and you can spare the roster spot (i.e. you're not a surprise contender), and then shut them down if you want in September when rosters expand.  You could pick a guy with more recent TJ surgery too, and just DL them the entire first year, and then follow this plan in the second year.

 

I don't know if Jones will follow that exact plan, but it looks like the Brewers and other teams are incorporating elements of it for their Rule 5 picks.