2025 MBWBA Rule 6 Draft Preview

[udlb58]

You don't have the name value or overall quality of the 2024 Rule 6, and every one of these guys have some sort of fatal flaw, but that doesn't mean there aren't a number of potentially useful players available in this year's draft. Here's a breakdown of what I feel are the best players available:

1. 1B/DH Edgardo Jaso: The DH/1B is a typical example of a crazy unbalanced player that is able to be successful in the EBA but could get exposed in the MBBA. The righty came over to the EBA looking like a run-of-the-mill first basemen, but a power explosion has gotten the attention of MBBA GMs. His best-case comparison has to be Cali’s Cris Vazquez. I’m also concerned that he may not age well, and any big contract could become an albatross quickly. Being a righty power bat with no defense will hurt him, but he has a real shot at being selected in this down class.
2. SP Alfredo Granados: ‘Brainwave’ has been the top pitcher in the EBA since 2022 and may be the only real rotation option in this year’s Rule 6. He has an explosive fastball/forkball/curve combo and a solid changeup. His flyball tendency means he will have to find the right ballpark fit, but even if he fails as a starter in the MBBA, he could be a very good reliever as his stuff would play up out of the pen.
3. SS Russ Ray: A young, fast, slick-fielding shortstop who should really be able to hit righties. You could put him 1st or 2nd on this list and I wouldn't really argue. Jaso has the power, but Ray plays a difficult position (very well) and could be a positive influence with his bat....if he is used in a platoon. Wouldn't be surprised to see him hit .280 with 15 HR. That's nothing to shake a stick at considering he offers a phenomenal glove at short as well.
4. 1B/OF Rubén Álvarez: The lefty corner outfielder/first baseman makes a ton of contact and should hit over .300 on a consistent basis, but he lacks any kind of power (he has 8 career EBA home runs) and the batting eye you typically look for in those positions [1B/corner OF]. If he had the ability to play center, he would be one of the most sought after in this pool, but he can't so he isn't.
5. C Jackie McKillen: A terrible catcher that all MBBA teams should avoid............
   Seriously though, he is like Ray in that he has the potential to be a solid platoon player at a difficult position to find bats. He should be able to hit 15+ HR with passable defense. The biggest question is if he will be able to make enough contact to be a platoon bat. Probably not a great addition, but he could be an improvement over a few of the catchers in the MBBA.
6. OF Adilmar Hoffman: Another possible platoon bat, Hoffman can play all outfield spots and could potentially learn 2nd if he were to be played there. He’s pretty ineffectual against lefties, but a left-handed CF who can hit .260 with 15 HR and 20+ SB in a good year should still garner some interest from the MBBA.
7. RF/LF Raffaello Altabani: Being a more comfortable hitter from the right side and a corner OF will scare some off, but it is hard to argue with his near 1.000 OPS over the last 150 games. At worst, he’s still a solid power bat with good defense.
8. 2B Jesús Martínez: The only real middle infield bat outside of Russ Ray available here, Martinez has the ability to be a league average second baseman against RHP. I could see him hitting .260-.270 with solid defense and speed in a typical year.
9. OF Roger Dubois: How one views his glove will have great effect on where he is rated. If you think he can be an every-day centerfielder, he bumps up considerably because he should hit .270 with close to 10 HR. If you doubt his glove in center, he moves down the list because he probably tops at a 4th OF.
10. P Sake Kievit: This might be a little reach here, but Kievit could be a useful LOOGY. I think he’d be a 10+ K/9 guy against LHB. He’ll give up walks, but could still be a useful bullpen arm.
11. C Meyer Gillich: Lefty bat at catcher with a cannon arm. Gillich is a solid, but unspectacular player who would be a nice #2 that could be a starter for a stretch in the event of injuries.
12. P Raphael St-Onge: He has never been much better than league average in the EBA, which wouldn’t bode well for a move to the States, but his stuff may play up enough out of the bullpen to make him a useful middle reliever in the mold of a Mark Rose [4.00 ERA, 1.35 WHIP].

[Lane]

Awesome! Thank you for doing this.

I was just wondering about it this evening and reviewing who I might lose. Did you happen to give any thought to Amsterdam SPs Bob Latrobe and Andrew Chesley? Both are not your typical Rule 6'ers due to their age and prior MBBA experience, but at least judging by players recently taken their ratings compare favorably. I haven't dug into the stats and have no idea if players like this ever move in the Rule 6 but it's intersting to think about. I could see some MBBA teams being interested in taking them aiming for cheap production.

Anyway I like the writeup, thanks.

[Ted]

Great stuff!

[ae37jr]

Great article. I had the option and toyed with the notion of sending Alvarez to the minors for a month and keeping him another season. His batting average is hard to get past, but once you do, there are a lot of holes in his game. This is where human control of the Rule 7 draft will become huge. I'm gambling on trading in a corner player with a .xxx/.387/.450 line for a comparable pitcher/SS/CF. The more EBA teams become accustomed to what players will "play" in our league, the smarter the rule 7 picks we will be making.

[udlb58]

Awesome! Thank you for doing this.

I was just wondering about it this evening and reviewing who I might lose. Did you happen to give any thought to Amsterdam SPs Bob Latrobe and Andrew Chesley? Both are not your typical Rule 6'ers due to their age and prior MBBA experience, but at least judging by players recently taken their ratings compare favorably. I haven't dug into the stats and have no idea if players like this ever move in the Rule 6 but it's intersting to think about. I could see some MBBA teams being interested in taking them aiming for cheap production.

Anyway I like the writeup, thanks.

I would be shocked if either were taken (which is why I was interested in Latrobe at the deadline). Latrobe is an anomaly. I just don't think 6/6/10 would play in the MBBA (at least not as more than just another guy, and who wants to have a potential bidding war for 36yo who is basically the same guy he was when he left the MBBA 5 years ago). Chesley is replacement level in the MBBA. This year is probably going to be his high water mark (though I wouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of him if he were on my team).

[udlb58]

Great article. I had the option and toyed with the notion of sending Alvarez to the minors for a month and keeping him another season. His batting average is hard to get past, but once you do, there are a lot of holes in his game. This is where human control of the Rule 7 draft will become huge. I'm gambling on trading in a corner player with a .xxx/.387/.450 line for a comparable pitcher/SS/CF. The more EBA teams become accustomed to what players will "play" in our league, the smarter the rule 7 picks we will be making.

Right. I think there are quite a few minor league guys with nearly no shot in the States who would be key players in Europe. Marcus Hollis is a great example. He was basically only a positive WAR player because of his glove, but he's been a very good player the last 2 years in Munchen, despite a 4 in contact.

[bschr682]

Im very surprised to see Jaso so high on the list. Guys like him tend not to do well over here. Russ Ray is as good as gone and because I probably can't get him, ill give Granados a shot.

[udlb58]

Im very surprised to see Jaso so high on the list. Guys like him tend not to do well over here. Russ Ray is as good as gone and because I probably can't get him, ill give Granados a shot.

I really debated Jaso and Ray, and really probably should have switched them; but I do worry a little about projecting a guy to hit for a high average in the States, when he was consistently between .285-.305 in the EBA. I'm pretty confident in what Jaso will offer (2-4 seasons of ~.240 with 30 HR), I'm just not sure what Ray will end up providing .260/.310/.380? The one really big positive for Ray is his glove. At worst, he ends up being a Diamond Glove contender and below average hitter.

[recte44]

Ray is the new Timmy Moulin.

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[udlb58]

Ray is the new Timmy Moulin.

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Except without the OBP, I was thinking Sam Hampton or Carl Kidd in their prime

[7teen]

Brainwave and Ray have been my top 2 all season long. Just waiting for Greenville's pick to see which one I get.

[Lane]

Interesting note that there could be two CFs named Dubois picked in back to back Rule 6 drafts with Roger this year and Marceau next year.


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[c-mitch]

The question for me is if I'm going to get someone at 10, because my list is not 10 people long.

[bschr682]

Brainwave and Ray have been my top 2 all season long. Just waiting for Greenville's pick to see which one I get.

Mr Salazar's salary not gonna stop you from matching if I throw big money out there?

[7teen]

Brainwave and Ray have been my top 2 all season long. Just waiting for Greenville's pick to see which one I get.

Mr Salazar's salary not gonna stop you from matching if I throw big money out there?

Depends on how much money you throw around I guess....

[Lane]

Brainwave and Ray have been my top 2 all season long. Just waiting for Greenville's pick to see which one I get.

Mr Salazar's salary not gonna stop you from matching if I throw big money out there?

Depends on how much money you throw around I guess....

Do the contracts have to be matched in structure or just AAV?


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[udlb58]

Do the contracts have to be matched in structure or just AAV?


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"Draft retains the rights to accept said player on his team, along with the exact contract that he signed as a free agent. "

[udlb58]

Kind of surprised McKillen didn't get picked because of that Power/Eye vRHP and the same for Dubois because of his Contact/AvoidK

[njherdfan]

I just read this, and I thought it was awesome. I ended up not submitting a list because I thought this class wasn't particularly deep.

[7teen]

Kind of surprised McKillen didn't get picked because of that Power/Eye vRHP and the same for Dubois because of his Contact/AvoidK

Dubois surprises me more than McKillen. Dubois ability to play defense and a decent bat I thought would land him somewhere.