It’s been a very quiet Winter Meetings for the Chicago Cubs, and that mostly carried right on through the MLB Rule 5 Draft today.
In a relative surprise, the Cubs did not take anyone in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Normally, a team passing in the Rule 5 is almost definitionally not a surprise. But with nine(!!!) open spots on the 40-man roster and a desperate need to start adding potential relievers, I’d assumed the Cubs would grab a flier to compete in Spring Training for a bullpen job.
The fact that they didn’t indicates that the Cubs simply didn’t like any of the available options more than what they think they can accumulate throughout the rest of the offseason. Not an unreasonable bet.
As far as their own prospects go, the Cubs also did not lose anyone in the big league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, though that was not necessarily a surprise. The Cubs had very few unprotected prospects who garnered mentions on Rule 5 Draft lists that went 50+ names deep. The system is a little thin right now, which is a factor, and it’s also simply lighter on guys who could realistically stick on a big league roster all year.
In the minor league phase – where, remember, you simply get to keep the prospect as a minor leaguer if you want, with no restrictions – the Cubs made a trio of picks. Because the ability to protect prospects in the minor league phase is so ample, you’re very unlikely to land a future big league contributor in the minor league phase. But might as well take some swings.
A 6’6″ righty, Adam Stone was the Cubs’ first selection. The Cubs had a good opportunity to see Stone up and close during the Arizona Fall League, as Stone was pitching for the Mesa Solar Sox, the team on which Cubs prospects also played.
Stone, 24, hadn’t pitched in two years to that point. He had suffered a shoulder strain and got a second Tommy John surgery in that time, so the AFL was his first time in a game in a long time. It didn’t go well by the results, but I’m sure this is purely a scouting play by the Cubs. I like the type, since you’re not going to get huge “wins” out of guys who have been playing every day the last couple years and simply couldn’t rise high enough to make an upper-level roster. But with a guy who simply hasn’t pitched due to injury? You might be able to actually coax the next development step.
Stone was profiled at MLB Pipeline during the AFL, if you want to read more on his story. He throws 97 mph with some cut, and he recently got his degree at Harvard.
With their second pick in the minor league phase, the Cubs took righty Zane Mills from the Cardinals. A 6’4″ reliever, Mills reached Triple-A this past season, but apparently the Cardinals didn’t see a future for him in their organization. He was the organization’s 4th round pick in 2021, rose steadily through the system, but wasn’t protected on the Triple-A roster.
If nothing else, Mills can be capable depth there at Triple-A Iowa for the Cubs, who’ll try to coax a little more out of the 25-year-old.
With their third pick in the minor league phase, the Cubs took 26-year-old third baseman Devin Ortiz from the Padres’ organization. I can’t say I know too much about him, other than he hit .242/.325/.317/94 wRC+ at Double-A this past season with 19 stolen bases, and marks some additional depth for the infield group at Knoxville or Iowa next season. He plays both of the corner infield spots.
The Cubs did not lose anyone in the minor league phase of the draft.
You can see the full results for both phases of the draft here at Baseball America.
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