SAN DIEGO — The Orioles, who have made a Rule 5 draft selection every season under executive vice president Dan Duquette, have been preparing all week to make another pick this year.
Duquette said Wednesday that the organization has evaluated approximately 60 players for this year's Rule 5 draft.
"We've looked at scouting reports, we've looked at video, we've looked at career performance records, we've looked at amateur scouting reports on certain players in some cases," Duquette said. "So we've gone through the list very methodically and thoroughly."
The club took utility player Ryan Flaherty from the Chicago Cubs in December 2011 and then selected left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Cleveland Indians the following year.
Last December, the Orioles picked third baseman Michael Almanzar from the Red Sox. And even though they returned him to Boston on July 1, they re-acquired him Aug. 30 in a trade.
The Orioles have been successful in the Rule 5 draft because they have been able to draft players who fit their needs on the 25-man roster. Players selected must be carried on the team's active roster all season or offered back to the original club.
"That's what we consider in our meetings here just prior to the draft," Duquette said. "How is this player going to help the Orioles? How will they fit into the team? Because we want to draft him and we want him to play for our ballclub next year. It's a good process. Our guys do a good job with it."
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