In any normal year, the MLB Rule 5 Draft would be an overhyped event, with a small risk of losing a potential big league player who at best could be an average starter, but more likely will end up a 30-40 grade player.
This year, the Rule 5 draft was postponed, due to the MLB lockout. The draft — meant to keep teams from hoarding potential major league talent in their minor league system — typically takes place at the end of the Winter Meetings in early December. The drafted players must remain on their new team’s MLB rosters all season in order for the new team to keep the player.