Andrew Painter is going to be in the news today. It’s likely that Felix Reyes, Griff McGarry, and a couple of other prospects will show up in social media feeds and on Phillies updates. That’s because today is the day that teams must add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from being pilfered in the Rule 5 Draft which takes place next month. There is no way that the Phillies will not protect players like Painter and Reyes, and with their 40-man roster now standing at 30 players, they have the room to protect prospects and likely will not have to juggle other prospects or players to find room.
MLB Teams, Players Face Decision Week
The Phillies could wind up adding several prospects to the 40-man roster today. Additionally to those already mentioned, players like pitcher Alex McFarlane and Saul Teran could be added. Position players added may include Gabriel Rincones Jr., who opened eyes in training camp last year and did nothing to shift those eyes off of him in his 2025 season at Lehigh Valley.
How the Rule 5 Draft works, and who needs protection
If you’re wondering about other top prospects like Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller, don’t. Crawford was drafted in 2022 at age 18 and would need five full minor league seasons under his belt until he would need to be protected, so he is safe. His day will likely come closer to opening day. Miller signed when he was 19 and needs to play four full seasons in the minors before he is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Like Crawford, Miller will likely hit the roster at some point this season, but both he and Crawford would not need to be protected until next year.
There are some names that are on the bubble for the Phillies. Pitchers Eiberson Castellano and Daniel Harper both need to be added, but the Phillies could take a chance on not protecting them. Harper is highly thought of by the Phillies front office folks and may lean toward being protected since he is thought to not be far away from being “major league ready.” Castellano was not protected last year and snuck through the draft without being poached. While the Phillies sent both Harper and Castellano to the Arizona Fall League this year, Harper may be the only one of the two protected.
The Phillies history with protecting and adding players
Deciding who to protect can be a bit of a roulette game. Over the years, the club has lost players who later turned into steady big leaguers.
George Bell is one of the most painful Rule 5 losses in Phillies history — arguably the most painful loss. The Phillies left Bell unprotected after the 1980 season, believing he was still too raw and needed more time in the minors. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the Rule 5 Draft on December 8, 1980, and kept him on the roster long enough to retain his rights. Bell gradually developed into a cornerstone player in Toronto, becoming one of the premier power hitters of the 1980s.
Another notable loss was Trevor Rosenthal, taken by the Cardinals in 2009 after the Phillies left him unprotected in the minor league phase. He eventually became an All-Star closer in St. Louis.
One of the most famous additions by the Phillies is Shane Victorino, though his path was unusual. The Phillies actually selected him in the Rule 5 Draft after the Padres had taken him earlier and returned him. When the Phillies grabbed him in 2004, he was still trying to find his stride, but he eventually developed into a multi-time All-Star, Gold Glove winning outfielder, and key part of the 2008 World Series team. His success stands out as one of the best Rule 5 selections in franchise history.
Another strong addition was Odúbel Herrera, taken in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft from Texas. He arrived as an infielder but converted to center field and quickly became a solid everyday player. He made the All-Star team in 2016 and gave the Phillies several productive seasons before his career unraveled.
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