LA Angels: 3 prospects gained and 2 prospects lost in Rule 5 Draft

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The Rule 5 Draft is always hectic and the Angels were at the forefront of it.

Every December, the Rule 5 Draft takes place. While many players who are selected never become contributors at the major league level, there are many success stories who have. Some of the greatest names to ever be taken in the Rule 5 Draft include long-time ace Johan Santana, Phillies outfielder and former Halo Shane Victorino, and even power-hitting second baseman Dan Uggla. There are genuine major league contributors to be had and who is to say the Angels didn’t gain one today?

While most of the names selected are likely players you have never heard of if you do not follow the Angels’ minor league system intently, there is a lot of intrigue.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Rule 5 Draft, there is a major league portion where players who are unprotected by their original teams — players that are not placed on the 40-man roster before the deadline — as well as minor league portions. Those minor league portions are referred to as the Triple-A phase and the Double-A phase, although the Double-A phase is usually passed on.

In this year’s Rule 5 Draft, the Angels saw one of their players get selected first overall in the major league portion of the draft, representing a huge organizational loss. The Angels also lost a left-handed pitcher who they received in the Zack Cozart trade. In addition to those two losses, the Angels picked up three players — one in the first round of the major league portion of the draft, one in the first round of the Triple-A phase, and one in round two of the Triple-A phase.

All in all, these men could make an impact on the Halos as an addition or a subtraction. Let’s take a look at all five of the players that are heading to the Angels are being shipped elsewhere.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 15: A detailed view of an Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hat and a catching glove is seen during the sixth inning of the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Angels 5-3. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Leavers

The Angels lost just two players in the Rule 5 Draft, both pitchers. Jose Soriano was listed by MLB.com as the 13th-best prospect in the system and he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Garrett Williams, a southpaw who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for first-rounder Will Wilson and Zack Cozart is now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Jose Soriano

Jose Soriano is a 22-year-old right-hander who has had very up-and-down results within the Angels’ system. Soriano posted a 2.55 ERA and 4.05 FIP across 15 starts in A-ball in 2019. He struck out over a batter per inning, but had trouble with walks, averaging over five walks per nine innings. He has done well in his minor league career for the most part, but has never reached a level higher than A-ball. While he was ranked highly within the system, he is still not a polished pitcher yet represents a great deal of upside.

Garrett Williams

Garrett Williams is a 26-year-old lefty who has made it as high as Double-A with the San Francisco Giants. Originally a 2016 seventh-round selection of San Francisco, Williams was dealt to the Angels in the Zack Cozart deal as mentioned above. Williams has been excellent in the minor leagues for his entire career outside of a rough patch in 2018 at Double-A. Williams likely would have been a spot starter for the Angels as early as 2021.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 04: Houston Astros introduce James Click as their new general manager during a press conference at Minute Maid Park on February 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Click, 42, joins the Astros from the Tampa Bay Rays, where he served as the club’s Vice President of Baseball Operations for the last three seasons (2017-19). Click’s career with Tampa Bay spanned 14 years, originally joining the club as a Coordinator of Baseball Operations in 2006. Since then, he also served as the Rays Director of Baseball Research and Development and later Director of Baseball Operations. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Newcomers

Despite losing two members of their minor league system — one being a top-15 prospect in their system, the Angels made three additions of their own.

Jose Rivera

Jose Rivera, a member of the Houston Astros system, is a 23-year-old starter/reliever combo pitcher who was ranked as the 14th-best prospect in Houston’s system by MLB.com. Rivera has shown the ability to rack up strikeouts at a prolific rate and has the look and feel of a future middle reliever or more. This was a solid pickup for the Angels and with them taking Rivera from a division rival who is one of the more intelligent teams in the sport, he could be a gem.

Brendon Davis

Brendon Davis was a member of the Texas Rangers system as a 23-year-old third baseman and shortstop. Davis was once a part of a blockbuster trade that sent current Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish from the Rangers to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Davis has not any real ability to hit in the minor leagues but a change of scenery could do him some good. The Angels saw something they liked in him.

Gustavo Campero

Gustavo Campero is a catcher who is quite the anomaly. Campero is just 5’6″ and is notably fast. He has played in just 74 minor league games and is already 23 years old. Even with the limited experience, he has made significant strides with the stick, but his future behind the plate is questionable given his lack of size. In rookie ball with the New York Yankees in 2019, he posted a 122 wRC+ with great walk and strikeout rates. He could be a solid find as a depth piece.

Next. Looking back at the Rendon signing

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