Six players to consider protecting from the Rule 5 draft

1) Branden Kline - (23, soon to be 24) 2nd round pick. 2013 TJ surgery. PRP injection in May.

2) Parker Bridwell - (24) 18 starts at AA, 3.99 ERA, less hits than innings pitched. Was not protected last year.

3) Chris Lee (23) - Lefty starter. 4th rounder by Houston. Pitch better at each level he pitched this year. A, A+, AA. Less hits than innings pitched.

4) Ashur Toliver - (27) Lefty reliever. 60Ks in 56 innings. 2012 TJ surgery. He impressed Buck this year.

5) Triggs - (26) - Righty closer. Great numbers.

1.08 ERA, 16 for 16 in saves, 58.1 IP, 42 H, 65 K. 0.91 WHIP.

6) Richard Rodriguez -(25) Righty reliever. AA,AAA.

7-4, 2.51 ERA, 82.1 IP, 62 H, 73K, 1.02 WHIP

Mancini, Gunkel and Miranda do not need to be protected. Should get ST invitations.

Good list. Was wondering when someone would put something together. Triggs, Lee, and Kline are 3 I would protect.

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Good list. Was wondering when someone would put something together. Triggs, Lee, and Kline are 3 I would protect.

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Is Triggs's stuff better than it was at USC?

1) Branden Kline - (23, soon to be 24) 2nd round pick. 2013 TJ surgery. PRP injection in May.

2) Parker Bridwell - (24) 18 starts at AA, 3.99 ERA, less hits than innings pitched. Was not protected last year.

3) Chris Lee (23) - Lefty starter. 4th rounder by Houston. Pitch better at each level he pitched this year. A, A+, AA. Less hits than innings pitched.

4) Ashur Toliver - (27) Lefty reliever. 60Ks in 56 innings. 2012 TJ surgery. He impressed Buck this year.

5) Triggs - (26) - Righty closer. Great numbers.

1.08 ERA, 16 for 16 in saves, 58.1 IP, 42 H, 65 K. 0.91 WHIP.

6) Richard Rodriguez -(25) Righty reliever. AA,AAA.

7-4, 2.51 ERA, 82.1 IP, 62 H, 73K, 1.02 WHIP

Mancini, Gunkel and Miranda do not need to be protected. Should get ST invitations.

Always enjoy your posts sir. Good analysis as usual.

Chris Lee definitely. Do you think Parker Bridwell could stick somewhere? I would seriously consider him.

Kline sounds very promising so probably would protect him.

Need more info on Triggs and Toliver.

Is Triggs's stuff better than it was at USC?

His shoulder is healthy and he throws harder. I have not seen him.

Shouldn't we be more worried about who the Orioles will be selecting in the Rule V draft?

Shouldn't we be more worried about who the Orioles will be selecting in the Rule V draft?

Not this year if Bundy is healthy.

I guess you are right though if Bundy isn't healthy.

Not this year if Bundy is healthy.

I guess you are right though if Bundy isn't healthy.

They will still pick somebody.

They might not make it out of Spring Training but they will pick someone.

They will still pick somebody.

They might not make it out of Spring Training but they will pick someone.

We will see. Not sure about that actually.

Not this year if Bundy is healthy.

I guess you are right though if Bundy isn't healthy.

Bundy could be on the DL or in rehab and not effect the 25 man roster for some part of the season.

I wouldn't worry about protecting Chris Lee. He's pitched well in Bowie but his career WHIP is near 1.5 and he doesn't strike people out. Doesn't scream future major leaguer to me.

I've never seen anything out of Kline that screams "impact major leaguer," so I wouldn't be crying if he gets taken. Bridwell's stuff is real enough that a team might bet they're the ones who can turn him around, so I'd probably protect him. Tolliver could get popped as a lefty reliever with some deception, but he wouldn't be a big loss. I haven't seen any of the other three, but Lee doesn't really fit the profile of Rule 5 guys so he might be safe. Triggs and Rodriguez I know next to nothing about beyond their stats.

His shoulder is healthy and he throws harder. I have not seen him.

I saw him his last two years at USC and he was solid but unspectacular. definitely a college arm with ML potential, but nothing I saw that would lead me to believe shutdown reliever. If that's what he has blossomed into that's a pretty nice get for Baltimore. Will have to take a look at him next spring in Florida.

I'd protect all 6. The 40 man is going to be pretty roomy with all the FA's. Triggs and Tolliver would be my first two not to protect though. But in their cases I don't see why we just don't add them to the 40 man now and call them up and take a look.

Tolliver is up to 95-96 MPH this year. I'm expecting him to be protected.