It's nearly that time again. The offseason is already well underway, but things don't really start to heat up until the winter meetings in December. Part of that kickoff is the Rule 5 Draft where teams get a chance to steal some young minor leaguers away from each other. This year, high school draftees from 2010 and college picks from 2011 will be eligible for the draft this year. If you remember from last year, the Yankees ended up losing a few pieces in the draft, Tommy Kahnle the most prominent among them. However, after what happened with both Slade Heathcott and Jose Campos, the Yankees need to make wiser decisions this December, but who can they protect?
Jake Anderson | 2B/3B - You've never heard of Jake Anderson and there's nothing else to see here. The second baseman hasn't spent more than one game above low-A. He could be taken in the minor league portion of the draft and no one will mind.
Worth Protecting? No.
Francisco Arcia | C - A spring training staple for the last few years, Arcia has mostly been minor league fodder, so there's not chance of the Yankees actually protecting him, catcher or not. He's likely to make it through the draft, though, so there's no reason to be alarmed.
Worth Protecting? No.
Tyler Austin | OF/1B - Austin had an amazing year in 2012, but since then he's been limited by nagging injuries and disappointments. It seemed like he finally got over a wrist injury this season and with his experience in right field and first base, he seems like an important player to keep on the 40. If the Yankees are looking for a legitimate backup first baseman, they might not have to look too far this spring.
Worth Protecting? Yes.
Danny Burawa | RHP - Burawa was left unprotected last year and no one took him then. Now, after a 4.70-ERA and 5.5-BB/9 season at the age of 25, teams likely won't be any more interested. On the flip side, Burawa put up a career-high 11.1 K/9 this season, identical to what Kahnle put up in his last season with the Yankees. Just because he struggled this year doesn't mean someone might not take a chance on him.
Worth Protecting? Maybe.
Caleb Cotham | RHP - Having been in the system since 2009, Cotham is 27 and now has a 5.46 ERA to his name in Triple-A. He'll be a minor league free agent next year and hasn't really offered anything promising, so it's doubtful the Yankees do anything to protect him.
Worth Protecting? No.
Cito Culver | SS - It's time to throw in the towel on Cito Culver. He's only 22, but after five seasons (already?) of waiting, his bat isn't getting any better and his defense isn't really that well regarded. Chock him up as a bust and move on because I know I will be furious if the Yankees waste a roster spot on him.
Worth Protecting? No.
Gabriel Encinas | RHP - Having just returned from Tommy John surgery, it's possible the Yankees don't even have to worry about him getting away. They wouldn't be missing a whole lot if he was drafted, but he could be something to watch if he ever figures out where the ball is going.
Worth Protecting? No.
Ben Gamel | OF - Gamel is by no means a great baseball player, but at only 22 years old he could make his debut in Triple-A to serve as legitimate major league depth. Now that Zoilo Almonte is gone and Slade Heathcott cannot be relied upon, Gamel might be someone worth holding onto as a just-in-case option.
Brett Gerritse | RHP - It took him four seasons to finally get out of Charleston, but Gerritse finally did it in 2014. He's another one that will be a minor free agent next year, so he's probably not getting picked up by anyone as a 23-year-old who just just saw High-A for the first time.
Worth Protecting? No.
Angelo Gumbs | 2B - The once legitimate prospect took a huge hit over the last two seasons, struggling at the plate and struggling to stay on the field. His was one of the heads Rob Refsnyder had to step on to get all the way to the top and it doesn't look like he's going to be recovering any time soon. He's still only 22, so it might be worth it for someone to pick him up, but the Yankees don't have the time or the space to protect him.
Worth Protecting? No.
Fred Lewis | LHP - At one point, Joe Girardi was actually very impressed by Fred Lewis, but I'm sure that time has come and gone. He's now 27 and just completed a 6.89-ERA and 8.5-BB/9 season between Trenton and Scranton. Maybe at some point, as a lefty reliever, there was an outside chance he could make it, but right now it doesn't look like it will be with the Yankees.
Worth Protecting? No.
Mark Montgomery | RHP - Montgomery was thought to be the next relief ace from the system, but a shoulder injury has completely derailed his career. That's not to say that he's been bad, but he's lost a lot of control on the ball and reports indicate that his velocity is down. Still though, he's 24 and on the cusp of a call up, so it might be time to see if he can succeed or not because if the Yankees don't want to take the chance, someone else will.
Worth Protecting? Yes.
Zach Nuding | RHP - Nuding hasn't exactly offered much in the way of promise, but he did have a solid performance in Double-A before struggling in Scranton. He has shown that he is able to at least eat some innings after reaching at least the 100-inning plateau in his four full years of professional baseball. This year he reached the 150-inning threshold and could turn himself into an intriguing long reliever at some point.
Worth Protecting? Maybe.
Branden Pinder | RHP - Pinder had a solid bounce-back season after being demoted to Tampa in 2013 by pitching to a 2.04 ERA with a 2.0 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 between Trenton and Scranton. He was well regarded once and now he could be again. At 25, it's really now or never with him and the Yankees, especially with David Robertson possibly leaving, could choose now.
Worth Protecting? Yes.
Kyle Roller | 1B - Sure, he's a 26-year-old fringe prospect, but Roller impressed this year after hitting .300/.391/.550 on the season and finally getting a taste of Triple-A. If the Yankees are serious about finding a backup first baseman, or at least someone who can take his place if Mark Teixeira gets hurt again, they have to at least consider Roller. He made it through the draft last year, so maybe he does so again, and if he does he should be someone to watch in spring training.
Worth Protecting? Maybe.
Evan Rutckyj | LHP - Unfortunately, the left-hander isn't as good as his name suggests as the 22-year-old struggled mightily in his first taste of Tampa with 15 walks in only 12.1 innings. Perhaps he could have been someone to watch at some point, but three years in Charleston will wash off anyone's shine. I'd personally like to see him stay in the organization, but he's certainly not someone the Yankees will protect.
Worth Protecting? No.
Rob Segedin | 3B - This year, Segedin had a great return from injury as he hit .283/.398/.428 after moving up to Scranton. He's a third baseman and has also spent some time in the outfield, so he could be someone of use to the Yankees at some point. He just turned 26, so he's not exactly a can't-miss prospect, but he's the closest third baseman the Yankees have to the majors and he should at least be considered for protection.
Worth Protecting? Maybe.
Matt Tracy | LHP - As a left-handed starter who can eat some innings, the Yankees are going to take a long look at Tracy before they decide whether or not to protect him. He hasn't done very well against lefties, so he's not a specialist, but he could be another emergency depth option if the need ever arises.
Worth Protecting? Maybe.
Phil Wetherell | RHP - Wetherell has lived in relative anonymity in his time with the Yankees, but after getting pushed through High-A and Double-A this year, he's at least proved that he exists. In the best year of his career, the right-handed reliever had a 2.88 ERA against superior competition, though his peripherals weren't exactly exciting. He's shown an ability to throw multiple innings out of the bullpen, so maybe there's something here, but it's too early for the Yankees waste a roster spot on him. The Yankees should hope that he makes it through this year and can build off his 2014 season to become an actual option in 2015.
Worth Protecting? No.
Mason Williams | OF - Remember when he was the top prospect in the system? Hard times have fallen for the slap-hitting outfielder and it looks like he's headed into an ugly downward spiral. Mason's glove is still elite, but his inability to drive the ball in any regard can't be ignored. I know the Yankees will be very tempted to protect him just because of who he is, but it's time to let him go. If I were running the team I would try to trade him before the draft, just to get something back for all their effort. At this point, he could probably really use a change of scenery because the Yankees coaches are clearly not helping him.
Worth Protecting? No.
Zach Wilson | 3B - Wilson is a third baseman with very little prospect status to speak of. He reached Double-A for the first time this year at the age of 24, but didn't really show much promise. He could be a candidate for the minor league portion of the draft, but if he goes, he goes.
Worth Protecting? No.
The 40-man roster currently stands at 36 right now, but with a shortstop, third baseman, starting pitcher (at least one), and closer (possibly) to sign, the Yankees won't have much room to add anyone. They're going to have to get rid of someone by either non-tendering the likes of Esmil Rogers and David Huff or DFAing Eury Perez, Zelous Wheeler or Slade Heathcott. I would say that the Yankees will realistically only have room for one, maybe two, of these players and if I had one person to choose I'd go with Tyler Austin and call it a day.