Josh Hamilton

YankeeNation12 · Senior Member

Josh Hamilton

Situational Lefty · Veteran Member

I have to disagree with Phillips. I see where he's coming from, but this has got to be considered an exception to the general rule that players must pay their dues in the minors. And quite honestly, that's the nature of the Rule V draft. You can draft the player, but you only can keep him if you keep him on the 25-man roster all season. A lot of players have stayed in the majors for only this reason in the past.

I think it's an interesting and great story. He obviously had a ton of promise before he ran into his problems. It's amazing that he still appears to be good enough. The dude hit a 500 foot home run! It makes you want to root for him.

I have to think the bottom line is that if he's good enough to play in the majors, there is no reason he shouldn't be there. I can't imagine a minor leaguer complaining that Hamilton is in the pros above him if Hamilton is producing, especially considering Hamilton's circumstances.

baseballmonitor · Member

Well I think Steve Phillip's point is that he should have never been drafted by the reds in the rule 5 draft. Yea maybe he will make the pro roster, but it sounds like he will be a fourth outfielder and being realistic the Reds could have never expected anything more from him when they drafted him. The question then is whether or not the benefits of a fourth outfielder are bigger than the message it sends to minor league guys that are busting ass trying to make the team. Personally, I just think that even if it sends the message that you don't have to earn it in the minors to get to the majors only affects a small number of minor leaguers, that is still not worth doing when compared to the benefits a fourht outfielder will give you.

moonraker717 · Senior Member

I think this is a writer desperatly trying to find a dramatic/controversial story line at the beginning of spring training (and failing) *yawn*

-- Edited by moonraker717 at 22:03, 2007-03-12

cubsfan42 · Veteran Member

I don't think that Phillips needs to worry about sending the wrong message to minors leaguers. If anything, the message they are sending is 'if you can produce, then we will give you shot.'

It is a pretty interesting story, but I'm not really in the know when it comes to this Rule V draft. What is it?

YankeeNation12 · Senior Member

It's basically, at the winter meetings every team submits a 40 man roster. If you are signed after 19 years of age and have been in the minors 4 years and are not on the 40 man roster then you are eligible. If you were signed before you turned 19 and have been in the minors for 5 years and are not on the 40 man roster than you are eligible. If a team drafts you, they can keep you as long as you stay in the majors the entire season. If you do not stay in the majors then you offered back to your original team on waivers for a $25,000 fee. Since you have to stay up in the majors the entire year not many people are drafted. But I know Roberto Clemente was a rule 5 pick and I think Johan Santana was too.

moonraker717 · Senior Member

Dan Uggla last year...teams do it when they have nothing to lose sometimes (i.e. the Marlins)

cubsfan42 · Veteran Member

Thanks for the clarification.

Anyone see Hamilton last night? 2 for 2 with a couple of RBIs. It's just the spring, but he's looking good so far.

cubsfan42 · Veteran Member

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2824178

There's a nice little article about Hamilton's debut.