The Phillies have the 24th selection in Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft, and though the organization isn't required to make a selection, they likely will target a bullpen arm.
It's important to note that draftees be added to the 40-man roster and remain on the 26-man roster for the entire season.
The Phillies selected right-hander Noah Song last year but designated him for assignment in July before returning him to Boston.
The Phillies presently have 38 players on the 40-man roster, but there's little flexibility for a potential Rule 5 addition to secure a bench position on the 26-man roster. Cristian Pache, Jake Cave, and Edmundo Sosa are all out of options, and there's already an established core of relievers on the roster, meaning it's unlikely any Rule 5 selection will stick.
Still, there's no harm in the Phillies making a pick on Wednesday and taking a look at another arm.
It'll cost $100,000 to make a selection, but clubs recoup $500,000 if they return the player to the team they originally were with.
Recent Rule 5 selections by the Phillies
RHP, Noah Song, 2022 - Boston
Song had outstanding stuff early in his career, but his commitment to the Navy forced him to miss parts of three seasons. He successfully petitioned to change his military status so he could focus on baseball and returned to the diamond in 2023. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his return, so the Phillies returned him to Boston.
SS, Kyle Holder, 2020 - New York (AL)
The Phillies dealt Holder to Cincinnati a month after selecting him from the Yankees. He hit .265/.336/.405 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 2019 for Double-A Trenton. Holder was the Yankees' first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Reds eventually sent him back to New York. He spent part of the 2022 season in the Rockies' organization before being released in July. It appears he's out of organized baseball.
3B, Vimael Machin, 2019 - Chicago (NL)
The Phillies dealt Machin to Oakland immediately after the draft. Ironically, he returned to the organization last year and spent 52 games with triple-A Lehigh Valley before being released in mid-June. He hit .235 with four homers and 21 RBIs. \
SS, Drew Jackson, 2018 - (Los Angeles)
The Phillies selected Jackson and dealt him immediately to Baltimore for international bonus slot money. He appeared in only six games at the Major League level, three with Baltimore and three with Oakland.
