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Rays prepare for ‘suspenseful’ Rule 5 Draft
- Updated: December 8, 2016
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 Draft takes place Thursday at 9 a.m. ET, and the Rays have prepared accordingly.
The Rays’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players on it, which means they can select any unprotected player on another club. They will have the fourth selection of the Draft.
• Clubs dig for diamonds: Rule 5 Draft preview
MLB.com and MLB Network will have coverage of the Draft, which is the final event at the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington, D.C.
Erik Neander, Rays senior vice president, baseball operations/general manager, was asked if he had a feel for what the team might do with the fourth pick.
“We do,” Neander said. “It’s something we’re going through and we’ll likely spend more time on it this evening to determine if there’s someone there we want to take. Nothing’s been decided yet. It’s something we are spending some time on.”
The Rays added eight players to fill their 40-man roster when rosters were set, then lowered that number to 39 on Friday when infielder Ryan Brett was not tendered a contract. Still, given the talent level in the organization, there’s a good chance the Rays could lose a player. Last year the Orioles plucked outfielder Joey Rickard from the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft.
Neander managed a smile when asked if the Rays would be surprised if they lost a player.
“If history’s any guide, I probably shouldn’t be,” Neander said. “You never …
