Baltimore Orioles Make Surprising Roster Moves Ahead of Rule 5 Draft Deadline

With the deadline for the important Rule 5 Draft here, the Baltimore Orioles made some surprising roster moves to clear up space on their 40-man roster.

The Baltimore Orioles will be heavily monitored ahead of the Rule 5 Draft that allows other teams to select prospects within their organization that are not on the 40-man roster.

Eligibility for this draft is as follows according to MLB.com:

"Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 process. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn't stay on the 26-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000."

So, with that in mind, the Orioles have cleaned up during the Rule 5 Draft as they were rebuilding to add talent from other organizations into theirs.

The shoe is on the opposite foot a bit for Baltimore this time around as they have tons of players that other organizations are interested in drafting if they aren't protected ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

That's why the front office made two moves on Tuesday to free up more space on their 40-man roster.

MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Orioles have assigned utilityman Terrin Vavra and pitcher Tucker Davidson to Triple-A.

This clears up two more roster spots ahead of the deadline, leaving Baltimore with 36 players on their 40-man.

Only one player in their farm system, outfielder Hudson Haskin who's their No. 17 prospect, is definitely going to be protected ahead of the Rule 5 Draft.

If no others are added, the additional roster space allows them to add Major League players in free agency and through trades, without having to make corresponding moves to clear up spots.

Davidson being sent down is surprising, considering that the Orioles just agreed to a pre-arbitration contract after claiming him off waivers. But, starting him at Triple-A allows them to assess his viability in 2024 as a potential bullpen option.