The Indians supply the first two picks in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft as Josh Rodriguez goes to Pittsburgh and Jose Flores goes to Seattle.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Indians didn't take a player in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, but they lost two Thursday at the winter meetings. In fact, they provided the first two picks in the draft.
Pittsburgh took infielder Josh Rodriguez, 25, from the Class AAA Columbus roster with the first pick in the draft. Seattle took right-hander Jose Flores with the second pick from the Columbus roster.
Rodriguez, a second round pick by the Indians in 2006, had a breakout year. He hit .317 (20-for-63) at Class AA Akron and really emerged at Columbus where he hit .293 (93-for-317) with 12 doubles and 46 RBI. He had a .858 OPS -- .372 on base percentage and .486 slugging percentage.
"Looking at the free agent middle infielders available, he's a good fit for us," said Pirates GM Neal Huntington. "He can play second, short and third and we like the bat. He absolutely has a shot of sticking with us."
Flores, 21, pitched at Class A Lake County. He went 1-1 with a 2.14 ERA and six saves in seven chances in 28 games. He struck out 51, walked seven and allowed 35 hits in 42 innings. The opposition hit .224 against him.
He was signed as a free agent in 2008 in Venezuela.
"It's unusual to take a guy from (low) A ball," said Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik. "But again, when you look at it, the key to the thing is that he's a strike thrower. He's aggressive and has size and arm. We'll see what happens."
Zdurencik said the Mariners scouted Flores, 6-3, 185 pounds, last season and checked with their Venezuelan scouts to see how he pitched as an amateur.
The Indians will receive $50,000 each for Rodriguez and Flores. The Pirates and Mariners must keep them in the big leagues all season or offer them back to the Indians along with $25,000.
Ross Atkins, Indians director of minor league operations, said he'd definitely take both players back if they don't make the Pirates and Mariners big-league clubs coming out of spring training.
"It's a great opportunity for them, but selfishly we'd absolutely take them back," said Atkins.
The Indians considered creating space on the 40 roster to take a player in the draft, but decided against it.
"We feel good about the roster we held," said Atkins.
The Indians have a lot of players at second base including Jason Donald, Luis Valbuena, Jayson Nix and prospects Jason Kipnis and Cord Phelps. Atkins said that was one of the decisions that went into leaving Rodriguez unprotected.
Atkins said it was "unusual' for a player to get pick from low A ball as Flores was, but he understood the attraction.
"He's a good pitcher," said Atkins.
The Indians left former No.1 pick Adam Miller unprotected and he was not draft. Miller has had a series of operations on the middle finger of his right hand that have threatened his career. But he ended last season healthy and will attempt a comeback in spring training.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/12/cleveland_indians_lose_josh_ro.html
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