Prepping for the Rule 5 draft

The Rule 5 draft begins at noon today and the Orioles, as usual, are going to participate. It's what they do. It should be named after them.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias appeared on "MASN All Access" on Monday afternoon and offered confirmation.

"I would expect some activity in the first round of the Rule 5 draft," he said.

That's good enough for me. But he doubled down in a Zoom conference call with the media.

"If there are only four players that we feel are worth taking and they all go one, two, three, four, then we won't take anyone, but that seems really, really unlikely to me," Elias said. "I imagine our list is going to be longer than that. The Rule 5 draft never goes like that."

The 40-man roster has two openings, which enables the Orioles to participate. Elias didn't tip his hand regarding whether the team is more apt to select a pitcher or position player.

The Orioles chose two pitchers in last year's Rule 5 - Brandon Bailey from the Astros and Michael Rucker from the Cubs - and returned them to their respective organizations. They led off the 2018 proceedings by taking shortstop Richie Martin from the Athletics and also trading for infielder Drew Jackson, the latter going back to the Dodgers.

The 2017 Winter Meetings concluded with the Orioles selecting pitchers Nestor Cortes Jr., Pedro Araujo and José Mesa Jr. Araujo lasted the longest.

Outfielders Aneury Tavárez and Anthony Santander were chosen in 2016, the latter emerging as one of the best players on the team and its most valuable this summer. Another outfielder, Joey Rickard, was selected in 2015, but they traded for pitcher Jason García in 2014 and chose pitcher Logan Verrett.

Third baseman Michael Almanzar was the final selection in the first round in 2013. Left-hander T.J. McFarland joined the organization in 2012 and infielder Ryan Flaherty in 2011 - much better decisions.

Pitcher Adrian Rosario was selected in 2010. He had no business being in a major league camp and the Orioles returned him to the Brewers.

The 2009 Rule 5 draft is remembered more for the Orioles temporarily losing pitcher Steve Johnson to the Giants than their selection of left-hander Ben Snyder.

Who can forget the Orioles taking catcher Lou Palmisano in 2008?

Show of hands.

They used the third overall pick in 2007 on pitcher Randor Bierd and the fifth in 2006 on pitcher Alfredo Simón.

The Orioles didn't take a player in 2005. The streak began the following winter.

It's going to continue this afternoon.

They've done a nice job of determining which prospects need to be protected. Six were added to the 40-man roster at the deadline - outfielder Yusniel Diaz, pitchers Zac Lowther, Michael Baumann, Isaac Mattson and Alexander Wells, and infielder Rylan Bannon.

Among the exposed are pitchers Zach Pop and Cody Sedlock, infielder Mason McCoy and catcher Brett Cumberland. Pop is recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2019. Sedlock wasn't selected last year.

Using a Rule 5 pick as the backup catcher won't appeal to many clubs. And how many are willing to carry three for an entire season?

Teams are able to claim unprotected players for a $100,000 fee.