Major League Baseball teams must add players to their 40-man rosters by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft, set for Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida. Six Top 100 prospects are eligible, but their clubs view protection as a no-brainer. Other borderline candidates present tougher choices across all 30 organizations.
The Rule 5 Draft offers teams a chance to select unprotected players, requiring them to keep those selections on the active roster or return them. With the deadline approaching, clubs are evaluating prospects who could attract interest.
Six high-profile Top 100 prospects stand out: Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter (No. 16), Guardians shortstop Angel Genao (No. 59), Marlins catcher Joe Mack (No. 70), Cardinals catcher Leonard Bernal (No. 92), Yankees right-hander Elmer Rodríguez (No. 97), and Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones (No. 99). Their teams plan to protect them without hesitation due to their rankings and potential.
For each organization, one player on the 40-man bubble highlights the dilemmas. In the AL East, the Blue Jays consider outfielder Victor Arias (No. 9), who posted a .833 OPS in A ball in 2024 but struggled with a .624 OPS in 33 Double-A games in 2025. The Orioles weigh catcher/first baseman Creed Willems, who hit 16 homers and threw out 28 percent of basestealers in 2025 despite positional uncertainty.
Similar debates span divisions. Rays infielder Jadher Areinamo (No. 24) boasts a low strikeout rate but chases pitches often, shining in the Venezuelan Winter League at .313/.363/.639. Red Sox outfielder Miguel Bleis (No. 15) offers plus tools but inconsistent production (.222/.300/.385, 14 HR, 27 SB in 2025).
In the AL Central, White Sox left-hander Shane Murphy led Minor League Baseball with a 1.66 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 135 1/3 innings. AL West's Angels right-hander Walbert Urena touched 102 mph but lacks a strong secondary pitch. NL East's Phillies right-hander Alex McFarlane features a triple-digit fastball but a 4.84 ERA in 2025.
Other notables include Rockies outfielder Sterlin Thompson (No. 15) with a .911 OPS at Triple-A and Padres right-hander Garrett Hawkins, third in Minor League ERA at 1.50. Teams must balance upside, performance, and roster space before Tuesday's cutoff.