PADRES: Players benefit greatly in Rule 5

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:06 PM PDT ∞

PEORIA, Ariz.---- Whereas management views a Rule 5 draft selection as a low-risk maneuver ---- costing $50,000 per player ---- with a potential jackpot awaiting, the real life-changing effects of the move belong to the draftee.

After years of toiling in the minors with little or no shot at the major leagues in sight, drafted players are suddenly thrown a lifeline with a real chance to reach the big leagues after being selected in baseball's Rule 5 draft.

But alas, it's not always that simple.

A drafted player must remain on a team's 25-man major league roster for one season, which means teams must fully commit to the prospect. If for any reason a drafting club can't keep a player on its roster (other than going on the disabled list), he must be offered back to his original team for half of his original price ($25,000).

Padres reliever Kevin Cameron, who was drafted from Minnesota, went through the roller coaster ordeal last season.

One minute, he said, he was down in the dumps about his exclusion from the Twins' 40-man roster. The next, he's fighting for a job with the Padres.

Cameron spent the entire spring wondering if he'd stick with the Padres or end up returning to Minnesota. But the right-hander never had to find out how awkward a return to the Twins would've been as the Padres kept him the entire season.

"It was nerve racking to start with but it ended up being the best thing that's happened to me baseball-wise for sure," said Cameron, who had a 2.79 earned-run average in 48 games with the Padres. "Basically I thought about (having to go back) all the time ---- today's the day. ... The baseball world is kind of a big family, everybody changes hands so much. Everybody is pretty accepting of every situation so it wouldn't have been a big deal to go back. But, obviously, I didn't want to go back."

Prior to last season, Cameron had spent the previous six years with the Twins. But his route to the majors was blocked by a logjam of pitchers on the organizational depth chart.

On Wednesday, Cameron returned to the minor leagues when he was optioned by the Padres to Triple A Portland.

Carlos Guevara faced a similar problem in Cincinnati, though he admits he was surprised when he wasn't protected after striking out 87 hitters in 62 innings with Double-A Chattanooga.

Once he got over his disappointment, however, Guevara realized the benefits of coming to the Padres, who acquired him in trade with Florida ---- who drafted him in the Rule 5 draft ---- for cash considerations.

Until Wednesday, Guevara was still in the mix for one of the Padres' final bullpen spots but a groin injury landed on the disabled list. For Guevara to remain with the Padres, he must be active for at least 90 days this season.

"It's a huge confidence booster," Guevara said. "They actually want you, have plans for you. ... I've been given the opportunity of a lifetime."