Red Sox Pick Up Arauz in Rule 5 Draft (12/12/19)

Today was the Rule 5 draft and rather than bore everyone by explaining exactly what that is, let's just say the Boston Red Sox picked up 3 players from other teams today.

In the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, the Sox selected 21 year old infielder Jonathan Arauz from the Houston Astros system. Arauz hit .242 for Houston's Double A team in Corpus Christi and having more infield depth in the minors is never a bad thing. Whether he makes the majors or not is up in the air.

                                                        Arauz is coming to Boston

In the minor league phase of the draft, the Sox selected 28 year old right handed pitcher Raynel Espinal from the New York Yankees system. He was 5-7 with a 4.32 ERA with Scranton this year so he's going to add pitching depth in Pawtucket this year. The other one selected was 22 year old right handed pitcher Jose Espada from the Toronto Blue Jays system. Jose pitched in just 10 games this year for the rookie league and Lansing Single A team. Unlike Espinal who's already 28, Espinal has time to develop and could be a steal if he does.

                                                       Espinal and Espada

It would be unfair to expect Rule 5 guys to turn into ML all-stars, if anything these guys are going to be mainstays in the minors. Arauz and Espada could make the majors someday, time will tell.