Marlins trade Rule 5 Draft pick for cash
The Marlins weren't overwhelmed about the options available in the Major League phase of the Draft on Thursday, so they ended up trading their choice for cash considerations.
With the sixth pick, Florida did take Jose Guevara, a right-handed pitcher from the Reds' Triple-A Louisville affiliate. The Marlins then turned around and dealt Guevara to the Padres for cash.
"You've got to feel strongly about him," Marlins vice president of player development and scouting Jim Fleming said.
In December 2005, the Marlins had such a feeling about Dan Uggla, who has become a Rule 5 Draft success story.
Picked out of Arizona's system, Uggla was an All-Star in 2006, and this past season he belted 31 home runs.
The cost for a Rule 5 Draft pick in the MLB phase is $50,000 if the player ends up making the big league roster out of Spring Training. If a Rule 5 Draft claim doesn't stay an entire year with the club that selects him, he is offered back to the original team for $25,000.
The Marlins, however, were active in the Minor League portion of the Draft.
In the Triple-A phase, they selected shortstop Smelin Perez from the Pirates' Double-A Altoona squad.
Fleming said the reports are Perez is strong defensively, and he adds depth to the system. The 5-foot-10, 150-pounder batted .252 in the New York-Penn League, and he currently is playing in the Dominican Winter League.
In the second round of the Triple-A phase, outfielder Daron Roberts was drafted from the White Sox's system.
Roberts can play all three outfield spots, and the native of Clearwater, Fla., hit .281 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs, but struck out 90 times at Class A Winston-Salem.
Roberts is projected to start off at Double-A Carolina.
In the Double-A phase, Florida took two pitchers, Kenny Fernandez from the Phillies organization and Adalberto Mendez from the Cubs' system.
The cost for a Triple-A phase player is $12,000, while it is $4,000 for the Double-A phase.
No one from the Marlins organization was claimed by other teams.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com.