Major League clubs gathered on Wednesday, the last full day of the Winter Meetings, to take part in the Rule 5 Draft. During the annual event, clubs have an opportunity to add low-risk, high-ceiling talent to their organizations,

The Twins selected right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano from the Philadelphia Phillies' organization with the ninth pick in this year's Rule 5 Draft. It's the first Rule 5 selection they've made since adding Tyler Kinley in 2017.

The moves made by the Cardinals ahead of the Nov. 19 deadline to protect Rule 5 Draft-eligible players protected top pitching prospects Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby and 2024 minor league standouts Matt Svanson and Matt Koperniak from being available to be drafted by another organization.

I don’t know if the Rule 5 Draft has gotten increasingly less relevant, but it sure feels that way. Teams now care a lot about roster flexibility, and savvy organizations are focused on skillsets and their own development strengths in a way where the waiver/cash considerations wire can be a more useful avenue for speculative additions than the Rule 5 Draft,

There is nothing else in baseball quite like the Rule 5 Draft, traditionally the final number of the annual Winter Meetings. Every year, Rule 5 sounds the closing bell on the Winter Meetings by provid