Rule 5 Redux

The Mets made one pick in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and flipped him to the Dodgers for “cash considerations”.

The complete draft can be found here.

The Mets have been desperately seeking a LOOGY for over a year, and could have taken a shot at one of the lefty pitchers available, but they didn’t. Zach Kroenke was a nice idea but was taken by Arizona one pick before the Mets. Still, LHP Chuck Lofgren was there for the taking — as were other promising lefties — and the Mets instead chose to pick someone for the Dodgers. Why? And for what?

Like most teams, the Mets passed on the second round of the draft. However, several decent prospects were still available — a few as good or better than some of the youngsters who were on the Mets 25-man roster last year. The very brief list here provided several examples of players who were worth at least a ST look.

Predictably, the Mets were busy in the minor league phase of the draft, stocking up AAA Buffalo with filler material — nothing of interest nor anyone that you’re likely to see in MLB in 2010 or thereafter.

Yes, the Rule 5 draft rarely produces a big leaguer, and can be somewhat risky. But the Mets went in with two open spots on the 40-man roster (one clogged with the likes of Chris Coste and Arturo Lopez), and have a glaring need for young talent, yet chose to completely toss away the opportunity to add a potentially useful part — or at least, provide some competition in spring training.

What’s most interesting is that the World Champion Yankees, the NL Champion Phillies, and the NL West Champion Dodgers all found worthwhile picks in the Rule 5 Draft. You’d think those teams wouldn’t be looking to other teams’ rejects for help, yet they are — maybe that resourcefulness, attention to detail, and hard-core desire to exploit any and all means necessary to improve is what makes them winning organizations?

Nah. The key to success, obviously, is signing offensively challenged catchers over the age of 35.