Analyzing Mets’ 2025 Rule 5 Decisions

With the offseason in full swing, it’s time for teams to look internally to decide which players they want to protect in the Rule 5 Draft. While the Draft is December 10 during Winter Meetings, the deadline to protect players from being selected and add them to a team’s 40-man roster is Tuesday, November 18 at 4 pm ET. The Mets enter the decision day with a full 40-man roster. So, they would have to make a move (s) to add any players.

As a quick refresher, minor league players become eligible at either the fourth Draft after their original signing (if they were 19 or older at the time) or the fifth Draft (if they were 18 or younger). Players on the 40-man roster are exempt, hence the importance of the protection deadline. If a player is selected in the Draft, that player must remain on his new team’s major league roster for the entire season. Otherwise, he returns to his original team. The most recent example of this is when the Mets didn’t protect LHP Nate Lavender in 2024 and the Rays selected him. However, the Rays designated him for assignment at the end of the season, thus returning him to the Mets.

The Mets didn’t protect any players in 2024, and only protected OF Alex Ramírez in 2023. A small group is usually selected, as space on the 40-man roster is coveted and limited.

With that, let’s examine the Rule 5-eligible players the Mets front office will have to consider adding to the 40-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline or risk losing them in the Draft come December.

OF Nick Morabito

The likeliest to be added to the 40-man, Nick Morabito, has quickly ascended the ranks of the Mets’ farm system. In just 300 minor league games, he owns a .291/.381/.389 line with 327 hits, 54 doubles, 10 triples, 118 RBIs, 143 walks, 276 strikeouts, and most impressively, 130 stolen bases. A speed demon, he can play all three outfield spots and excels defensively.

The 22-year-old is fresh off a stellar AFL campaign where he hit an absurd .362/.450/.464 across 17 games, stealing 16 bases out of the lead-off spot. While he likely won’t make his MLB debut in 2026, Morabito could be stealing bases in Queens come 2027.

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster

RP Saul García

2025 was García’s best year in the minors, hands down. Between Brooklyn and Binghamton, he posted a 1.70 ERA across 38 games (47.2 IP), striking out 76 and walking 28. He was used primarily to close out games, saving six, but finished 19.Impressively, he allowed only three home runs. Per Baseball America, García joined fellow Mets prospect Jonah Tong and Ryan Lambert as having one of the ten-best performing fastballs in the minors in 2025. García had a 64.9% strikeout rate on the pitch, along with a 39.1% whiff percentage on the fastball. The fastball sits around 95-96 mph but has a spin rate of more than 2500 rpm. For reference, among qualified pitchers, Will Warren led the league in four-seamer average spin rate with 2573 rpm in 2025.

Prediction: 50-50 odds on being added to 40-man roster

C Kevin Parada

Kevin Parada‘s Mets career hasn’t really taken off like many expected. His first couple of seasons were sub-par, culminating in him producing a .214/.304/.359 line with 153 strikeouts in 115 games in 2024. However, he bounced back in 2025, hitting a respectable .254/.326/.429 in 92 games for Binghamton before struggling in his final few games with Syracuse. Once seen as the catcher of the future, it’s hard to find a role for Parada in the organization with Francisco Alvarez (when healthy).

Prediction: Not added.

RP Douglas Orellana 

Orellana had a stellar season for Binghamton, posting a 1.64 ERA in 25 games (33 IP), striking out 46 and walking just 13. While he struggled with command upon a promotion to Syracuse (17 walks and 17 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work), he profiles as a back-of-the-end bullpen arm who pitches exclusively out of the stretch with a plus slider and a fastball that maxes out at 98 mph. It may be a risky take leaving him up for grabs, but he may fly under the radar.

Prediction: Not added

SP Joel Diaz

Diaz was second in team ERA (3.80) and strikeouts (98) for Brooklyn in 2025 while leading the team in the fewest walks allowed among starters (25). A starter by trade, Diaz appeared in seven games in relief, as well. He finished the season with an elite 2.1 BB/9 rate (leading the team) and an 8.3 K/9 rate. At 21 years old, the Dominican-born product looks to take his success to the next level in 2026.

Prediction: Not added.

2B/OF: D’Andre Smith

D’Andre Smith is coming off his strongest professional campaign (.282/.345/.417) between Binghamton and Brooklyn. Once known as a top power prospect, he’s turned into a pull-happy hitter who predominantly hits the ball on the ground (47.6% GB rate in 2025). His 127 wRC+ is promising of things to come, as is his .336 BABIP. However, he struggled in AFL play, hitting just .185/.353/.296 in eight games with eight strikeouts.

Prediction: Not added.

SP/RP Felipe De La Cruz

MMO’s No. 35 prospect, Felipe De La Cruz, continued to be used as a reliever rather than a starter in 2025. With an eclectic delivery, De La Cruz struggles with command but displays quality stuff, especially in his sinker and fastball. In 18 games with Syracuse, he posted an 11.7 K/9 rate but a 6.2 BB/9 rate, and struggled with command slightly less in Binghamton, compiling a 13.2 K/9 rate and 3.4 BB/9 rate. A strikeout threat when he’s on, the southpaw might find MLB success when he’s able to display better command.

Prediction: Not added.

SP Joander Suarez

At 25 years old, Joander Suarez struggled with command early in his career. Per a 2021 Baseball America scouting report, “his curve and change get swings and misses, but his fastball is the only pitch he can land for strikes.” Suarez has excelled in Binghamton the last two seasons, but struggled upon late-season call-ups. In five games for the Triple-A team, the right-hander has a 10.53 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched with seven home runs allowed.

Prediction: Not added.

C/1B Ronald Hernandez

A switch-hitting catcher acquired in the deal that sent RP David Robertson to the Marlins in 2023, Ronald Hernandez has had an up-and-down Mets career. He hasn’t hit past Single-A (.263/.360/.350 (106 games) line compared to .218/.315/.324 (111 games) in High-A Brooklyn). He doesn’t possess much power (20 home runs in 347 minor league games) but can work the strike zone (.359 lifetime OPS) and is a plus-defender behind the plate. He can play first base too, but at the end of the day, profiles as a backup catcher.

Prediction: Not added.

Other Rule 5 Eligible Players 

• RHP Calvin Ziegler
• RHP Joshua Cornielly
• RHP Jordan Geber
• RHP Trey McLoughlin
• RHP Luis Alvarez
• RHP Cristofer Gomez
• RHP Juan Arnaud
• LHP Gregori Louis
• RHP Dylan Tebrake
• LHP Eli Ankeney
• RHP TJ Shook
• RHP Brian Metoyer
• RHP Layonel Ovalles
• OF/1B Yohairo Cuevas
• OF Matt Rudick
• UT Jefrey De Los Santos
• INF William Lugo
• INF Wyatt Young
• INF JT Schwartz
• C/1B Vincent Perozo

It’ll be a tough choice for the Mets organization to decide who to protect. For the front office, the Rule 5 Draft acts as a check-in point in a player’s development. Are they pleased with their progress? And more importantly, do they believe this player has a future role on their big league roster?

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