These are the Cubs' Rule 5 Draft candidates
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The Cubs added three prospects to the 40-man roster at the tender deadline last month, shielding infielders Pedro Ramirez (No. 8) and James Triantos (No. 10) and lefty Riley Martin from Rule 5 Draft eligibility. But that still leaves a host of players in the system – including six of the club’s Top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline – open to selection at the annual Rule 5 Draft, set for Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
Before we take a look at who might be in jeopardy, first, a Rule 5 refresher:
Players signed at age 18 or younger have to be added to a team’s 40-man roster within five seasons, and players signed at 19 or older must be added within four seasons, or else they become eligible for selection by another organization.
Teams have to pay a $100,000 fee to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, and the player is required to remain on the 26-man roster for the full season. If the selecting team wants to remove him from the roster, the player must first be offered back to his former team for $50,000.
The Rule 5 Draft is always unpredictable. But there is a feeling things could be really active this time around, after teams made 83 total selections in last year’s Rule 5 – the most in 20 years, since 2004.
The Cubs made one selection in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft, taking infielder Gage Workman (he was returned to the Tigers in May). They also made three selections in the Minor League phase. Additionally, the Cubs lost three prospects during the Minor League portion.
This year, these Cubs prospects could be the most vulnerable to potentially being plucked.
Brandon Birdsell, RHP (No. 9): The organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024, Birdsell would’ve been a lock for the 40-man roster had he not suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery this summer. He was limited to only 18 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season and will miss all of 2026 recovering from the operation. By not protecting the 25-year-old, the Cubs didn’t commit a roster spot to someone who won’t factor into ‘26 while hoping most other teams make a similar calculation. But there is nothing stopping another club, very high on Birdsell, from drafting him and stashing him on the injured list until he’s healthy enough to contribute again.
Cristian Hernandez, SS (No. 11): Hernandez was the star of the 2021 international class, when the Cubs shelled out a $3 million bonus to land the precocious infielder. But he’s yet to rise above High-A South Bend despite one of the quicker bats in the system and enough speed to swipe 52 bases in 61 attempts in 2025. Still, Hernandez needs more development offensively after he saw his OPS drop from .755 to .694 this season amid struggles to impact the baseball consistently. Even if teams like the tools and upside, it’s probably unlikely any think he’s ready to make such a huge jump to the Majors and face big league pitching on a nightly basis.
Grant Kipp, RHP (No. 19): The 26-year-old Kipp is a high-floor/low-ceiling starter with a very good curveball (60 grade) and otherwise average stuff and decent control. He held his own at Double-A last season, pitching to a 4.22 ERA in 108 2/3 innings. By leaving him exposed, the Cubs are banking on teams coveting pitchers with more upside. But he could probably hold his own in the Majors, either as a back end starter or middle reliever, given his feel for that hammer.
Also worth mentioning: RHP Connor Noland (No. 22), LHP Drew Gray (No. 27), RHP Tyler Schlaffer (No. 30), RHP Brody McCullough, RHP Koen Moreno, RHP Kenyi Perez, RHP J.P. Wheat