What is a rule five draft in pro baseball?

Answer 1

The Rule 5 draft is where teams choose players from other teams players that are not on that team's 40 man roster. A player qualifies for the Rule 5 draft under the following conditions:

1) Not on their MLB team's 40 man roster.

2) Signed at age 19 or older and have been in that organization for three years OR signed at 18 or younger and been in the organization for four years.

An MLB team that loses a player to the Rule 5 draft receives $50,000 from the team that selected him. That player must stay on the selecting team's 25 man roster for an entire season after being drafted or must be offered back to the original team for $25,000.

Currently MLB players that were Rule 5 draftees include catcher Jesús Flores of the Washington Nationals and pitcher Jared Burton of the Cincinnati Reds.