A rundown of Yankees' Rule 5 Draft picks

December 9th, 2020

The Rule 5 Draft serves as the official conclusion of the Winter Meetings, one final opportunity for baseball’s decision-makers to gather before returning to their home cities. Though all business is being conducted remotely this year, teams will still have an opportunity to pounce upon unprotected talent.

The Yankees will have the 21st selection in the Major League portion of the Draft, which will take place at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the big league phase. If that player does not remain on the active roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

While the format and eligibility rules have changed at times, here are the players that the Yankees selected over the past 50 years of the Rule 5 process:

2011: Nationals RHP Brad Meyers
He sustained a right shoulder injury during Spring Training and spent all of 2012 on the Yankees’ disabled list, then was offered back to Washington that October. He ended his professional career in 2014.

2010: Dodgers LHP Robert Fish
His Yankees stay was brief, claimed on waivers by the Royals the following March. He last pitched professionally in 2016.

2010: Red Sox RHP Daniel Turpen
This big-bodied reliever was offered back to Boston the following March, remaining in their organization through 2014.

2006: Orioles 1B Josh Phelps
Following big league stops with the Blue Jays, Indians and Devil Rays, he batted .263/.330/.363 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 36 games for New York in 2007, then went on to play in the Majors with the Pirates and Cardinals.

1995: Brewers C Marc Ronan
His only big league duty came two years prior, with the 1993 Cardinals. He spent the 1997 season with the Yankees in Triple-A Columbus.

1975: Rangers 1B/OF Tom Robson
A future hitting coach with Bobby Valentine’s Mets, he completed his playing career in Japan during the 1976 season.

1973: Angels IF/OF Billy Parker
He was brought into Spring Training to challenge second baseman Horace Clarke. He spent three seasons with the Yankees’ Triple-A Syracuse club before ending his playing career in Mexico.

1971: White Sox LHP Jim Magnuson
He was in the Yankees organization for two years. He made eight relief appearances for New York early in the 1973 season, pitching to a 4.28 ERA.