One of the most dynamic Rule V drafts to date.  The Royals (GM lachupacabra) unleashed a whirlwind of trading activity on the Eve of the Draft, acquiring a record 24 picks from other teams.  The net result is that the Royals have 21 picks to make in this Rule V Draft, which is more than the average picks made in any single draft!  Simply amazing.

With 23 players already on his 45-man roster, this activity still keeps him under the 45-man limit, all on amazingly team-friendly deals.  The primary issue, however, is that these 21 players, if selected, must remain on his MLB roster for the duration of 2038.  This could set up the scenario for more trades or a lot of salary being stashed in the minors.  Will be interesting to watch, that is for sure!

Thanks to the Royals for making this the most interesting and exciting Rule V Draft ... ever!

That said, look for rules to change about when (and how many?) Rule V picks may be traded.

Update:  Royals acquired 4 more (one from TEX and 3 from NYY).  When will this madeness end?

As the dust settles, let's look at who lost what ... listing the team and the players they lost to the Rule 5 Draft:

Round 1

1. Royals - RP Curtis Blow (from LAD)
2. Royals (from Padres) - C Alonzo McBride (from SA)
3. Royals (from Tigers) - RP Jackson Ward (from SJ)
4. Royals (from Rays) - RP Jamon Pena (from LAD)
5. Royals (from Gamblers) - RP Matt Prior (from ATL)
6. Royals (from Rangers) - 3B Jarod Ware (from VAN)
7. Royals (from Cubs) - 3B Raymond Williamson (from VAN)
8. Reds - OF Zdravko Kwok (from CHC)
  -- Pirates (not participating)
9. Royals (from Lions) - RP Joey Ebacher (from NYY)
10. Royals (from Nationals) - RP Deshawn Wallace (from SD)
11. Royals (from Giants) - RP Brett Kennedy (from SF)
  -- Volcanoes (not participating)
12. Angels - SP Lucas Perry (from KC)
13. White Sox - RP Monty Skinner (from TOR)
14. Royals (from Yankees) - RP Cleo Lane (from TB) --> returned to TB
  -- Dodgers (not participating)
  -- Twins (not participating)
  -- Braves (not participating)
15. Blue Jays - RP Omar Moreno (from SF) --> returned to SF (01/09/2021)
16. Phillies - SP Cory Horn (from BAL)
  -- Diamondbacks (not participating)
  -- Athletics (not participating)
17. Orioles - <clock expired, pick lost>
  -- Bandits (not participating)
18. Royals (from Cardinals) - 2B Lewis Hayward (from ATL)
19. Mariners - no longer participating
  -- Mets (not participating)
  -- Red Sox (not participating)
20. Astros - SP Hunter Ennis (from LON) --> traded to TOR (01/11/2021)

Round 2

21. Royals - RP Ike Love (from SEA) --> returned to SEA
22. Royals (from Padres) - SS Kelly Green (from PIT) --> returned to PIT
23. Royals (from Tigers) - SS Gyles Waller (from VAN)
24. Royals (from Rays) - OF Randal Graves (from ANA)
25. Royals (from Gamblers) - SP Juan Tucker (from HOU) --> returned to HOU
26. Rangers - RP Jamarcus Franklin (from SA)
27. Royals (from Cubs) - SP Sydney Carter (LON)
28. Reds - SS Gerald Hartman (from PIT)
  -- Pirates (not participating)
29. Royals (from Lions) - SP Brant Kohler (from HOU)
30. Cardinals (from Nationals via Royals) - C Leopoldo Ronchi (from KC)
31. Cardinals (from Giants via Royals) - SP Michael Walcott (from BOS)
  -- Volcanoes (not participating)
32. Angels - no longer participating
33. White Sox - OF Harvey Drake (from HOU)
34. Royals (from Yankees) - SP Mattis Chevalier (from VAN)
  -- Dodgers (not participating)
  -- Twins (not participating)
  -- Braves (not participating)
35. Blue Jays - RP Harley Ramirez (from NYM) --> returned to NYM (01/09/2021)
36. Phillies - 2B Rasheed Fitzgerald (from BAL)
  -- Diamondbacks (not participating)
  -- Athletics (not participating)
37. Orioles - <clock expired Round 1, pick forfeited>
  -- Bandits (not participating)
38. Cardinals - SP Truman Donald (from SA)
39. Mariners - no longer participating
  -- Mets (not participating)
  -- Red Sox (not participating)
40. Astros - C Kennedy Stolartz (from LON) --> returned to LON

Round 3

41. Cardinals (from Royals) - SP Brandin Garcia (from BOS)
42. Cardinals (from Padres via Royals) - SP Eric Weber (from CWS)
43. Cardinals (from Tigers via Royals) - RP Simon Williamson (from NYM)
44. Royals (from Rays) - no longer participating
45. Royals (from Gamblers) - no longer participating
46. Rangers - SP Neal Huber (from LON)
47. Royals (from Cubs) - no longer participating
48. Reds - no longer participating
  -- Pirates (not participating)
49. Royals (from Lions) - no longer participating
50. Cardinals (from Nationals via Royals) - OF Jeff Shipman (from ANA)
51. Cardinals (from Giants via Royals) - C Kelvin Pittman (from ANA)
  -- Volcanoes (not participating)
52. Angels - no longer participating
53. White Sox - no longer participating
54. Royals (from Yankees) - no longer participating
  -- Dodgers (not participating)
  -- Twins (not participating)
  -- Braves (not participating)
55. Blue Jays - RP Carlton Brown (from ANA) --> traded to HOU (01/11/2021)
56. Phillies - SS Huey Lemon (from SD)
  -- Diamondbacks (not participating)
  -- Athletics (not participating)
57. Orioles - <clock expired Round 1, pick forfeited>
  -- Bandits (not participating)
58. Cardinals - SP Avery Adams (from KAN)
59. Mariners - no longer participating
  -- Mets (not participating)
  -- Red Sox (not participating)
60. Astros - SP Renton Davis (from LON)