Obviously if you are on the 40-man you are not subject to the Rule 5 draft. What I meant was, I know guys like Gomez, Nelson and Deduno and the others already on the 40-man won’t be subject, but who will become eligible for the first time this off-season? Sorry for the confussion. – jl

From my Purple Row Academy article on Rule 5

A club has 5 years to evaluate a player who signs his first pro contract at 18 years old or younger (from the June 5th preceding signing his contract), but only 4 years to decide on a player who signs at age 19 or above.

Those prospects who are not placed on the 40 man roster that meet these requirements are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. As a result, teams must place their most valuable prospects on the 40 man roster.

I believe that this will apply to, among others, Chacin this offseason (that is, if he weren’t already on the 40 man roster.

Did they spend a couple years in overseas leagues/academies before playing in US-based leagues?

If the rule is 4 and 5 yrs since they signed contracts, my guess is Cabrera was signed some time in 2003 in order to be eligible for the 2008 draft. The first minor league record I’ve found for him is Casper in 2006.

I assume other teams know when these players signed their contracts? Otherwise, it would make identifying a guy like Cabrera as a rule 5 candidate a lot harder.