With less than a week before the Rule 5 Draft we now have some room on our 40 Man Roster so let's think about how we might use our early draft pick. In my thinking we are pretty well set at the two most popular positions usually picked in the R5-relief pitcher and catcher. So maybe Houston, the Cubs, Minnesota, and the other few teams ahead of us might go for guys we aren't interested in. That's fine with me. Where we could use some help throughout our system is at 1B. Looking over all of our rosters it is hard to find much talent at 1B, so why not go for some depth through the R5.

There are at least 3 interesting 1B options in this years draft. Jesus Aguilar, Cleveland, Nate Freiman, Texas and a formed Red Sox Chris McGuiness, Texas (went to Texas in the Salty trade). I am not 100% sure but I do believe that all 3 did not make it to AAA in 2012 so they would be available in both the Major League and Minor League phases of the draft. If management thinks enough of one of them to place him on the 25 MR and see if he can be a decent backup at 1B in 2013, I'm OK with that. All three of them would fit into our 1B starved system if they get through to the minor leeage phase where they do not have to be on the 25 MR and need not be returned for any reason. Rumors are that Aguilar will not make it through the Major League round.

Here are some of the other names being touted as possible picks: Ryan Chaffee (LAA-RHP), Tim Crabbe (Cin-RHP), Jason Hagerty (SD-C), Kyle Heckathorn (Mil-RHP), Kyle Kaminska (Pit-RHP), Conner Crumbliss (Oak-2B), Randy Henry (Tex-RHP), Destin Wood (Was-OF), Jared Martin (LAD-RHP), Jefry Marte (Met-3B), Jon Keck (KC-LHP), Braulio Lara (TB-LHP), JC Sulbaran, (KC-RHP). Not sure on the details of all these guys but many are sure to be available in the Minor League phase.

We could also pick one of of own guys to prevent them from going to another team. Some possibilities there are Fields, Hazelbaker, and Pressly.

Only time will tell what we will do but I thought it might be fun to look into the possibilities. What do you think?