Rule 5 Draft Bug

[Trav876]

I initially reported this in the "General Discussions" so feel free to delete it there if needed (it is here- https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...d.php?t=335329). Moved it to here now per another user's request.

I've noticed several times that I can draft a guy in the Rule 5, who everyone passes up on, and then trade him for a pretty good prospect. The prospect is on a minor league deal of course, where the Rule 5 guy has to stay on the MLB roster. So if the AI wanted to acquire the Rule 5 guy, they could have done so for free by drafting him, rather than trading someone away.

It's also usually a bit strange that the AI doesn't protect many of these prospects I generally see, since there are some top 100's in there. Even if they aren't necessarily fully MLB ready yet, most clubs in real life will protect their top prospects once they're Rule 5 eligible- unless they're still in like Rookie Ball or not even close to MLB ready.

[Trav876]

Originally Posted by Trav876

I initially reported this in the "General Discussions" so feel free to delete it there if needed. Moved it to here now per another user's request.

I've noticed several times that I can draft a guy in the Rule 5, who everyone passes up on, and then trade him for a pretty good prospect. The prospect is on a minor league deal of course, where the Rule 5 guy has to stay on the MLB roster. So if the AI wanted to acquire the Rule 5 guy, they could have done so for free by drafting him, rather than trading someone away.

It's also usually a bit strange that the AI doesn't protect many of these prospects I generally see, since there are some top 100's in there. Even if they aren't necessarily fully MLB ready yet, most clubs in real life will protect their top prospects once they're Rule 5 eligible- unless they're still in like Rookie Ball or not even close to MLB ready.

Here's a good example.

Both Garrett Anderson and Troy O Leary are top 100 prospects. O Leary is the #78 prospect and has pretty good ratings (not just potential, but current), according to my scout and the OSA database (but I've also played historical leagues a bunch and for whatever reason the same guys continue to be available).

But as you can see, I drafted Anderson (#19 prospect) in the 2nd round- after everyone else passed on him, and then was able to trade him for Grudzielanek who is also a top 100 guy (#52) and is on a minor league contract. Even if he weren't on a minor league contract though, the club is giving up a prospect that it wouldn't have needed to if it would have drafted the guy I'm trading them.