Braves in Danger: 4 Prospects on Rule 5 Chopping Block

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00:00Braves in Danger, 4 Prospects on Rule 5 Chopping Block

00:04By 6 p.m., Tuesday, Atlanta must shield Rule 5 eligible prospects,

00:10turning a routine deadline into a high-stakes game of strategic exposure.

00:14The choice reshapes the 40-man roster and could ripple through their future pipeline of talent.

00:19Make no mistake, the Rule 5 draft is no casual off-season curiosity.

00:25Understanding the Stakes of the Rule 5 Draft

00:27The Rule 5 draft exists to prevent teams from stockpiling minor league talent

00:32without offering a fair shot at the majors.

00:35After 4 or 5 years, if not added to the 40-man roster,

00:38players become vulnerable and must stay on a club's MLB roster all season or be returned.

00:44Burkhalter and Mejia bring arm talent with varying readiness.

00:47Blake Burkhalter, Atlanta's No. 11 prospect, reached AAA in 2025

00:52with a 3.77 ERA across 18 appearances, two starts.

00:58At 25, he could offer bullpen help or rotation depth.

01:02Ian Mejia, ranked No. 19, owns a 2.62 ERA and a AA All-Star nod,

01:08but limited AAA exposure adds risk if a club believes his stuff translates.

01:123rd baseman David McCabe, No. 29, showed offensive promise,

01:21but a late-season jump to AAA dropped his OPS from .813 in AA to .719, reflecting an adjustment curve.

01:29Right-hander Ellison Joseph, No. 30, posted a volatile 2025 in AA, 4.31 ERA, and 1.66 WIP with too many walks,

01:40yet opponents hit .181, selection risk lower, but not zero.

01:44The Rule 5 draft will take place on December 10th during the winter meetings in Orlando.

01:50Though it often passes quietly, the potential for disruption remains,

01:54and Atlanta could make quiet roster moves before Tuesday's clock strikes six.

01:59In a system this deep, protecting the right names isn't just a choice, it's a necessity.