3 players the Blue Jays could target in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft

With the Rule 5 Draft less than a week away, we need to take a closer look at players that are available that can stick on the roster of the Blue Jays. They Blue Jays have some holes on their roster and there is a real chance that at least one player selected in the draft could stick.

The Rule 5 Draft takes place each offseason at the MLB Winter Meetings in December. The purpose of the draft is to keep teams from stockpiling too many young players in the minors who could be playing in the majors for other teams. Players are eligible to be selected if they are not on their teams 40-man roster. If they were signed at 18 or under and not added to the 40-man within five years, they're also eligible. Players who signed at 19 or older, same rule but four seasons.

The Blue Jays have needs all around the pitching staff, at backup catcher and potentially an outfielder with some thump in his bat. With some intriguing options available in the draft, don't be surprised to see the Blue Jays take at least one player that falls to them. They also have to worry about what players of their could be taken in the draft this year. They have some intriguing names themselves. With that being said, here are the three most intriguing players for the Blue Jays in this years Rule 5 Draft.

3 players the Blue Jays should target in the Rule 5 Draft

Bryan Magdaleno, LHP, Texas Rangers

Magdaleno was one of the most impressive relief pitchers in the minor leagues in the second half of the 2024 season, going all the way from Low-A to Double-A. The 23-year-old threw 25 scoreless innings with a 47% strikeout rate.

Magdaleno throws a four-seam fastball and a sinker that worked against both righties and lefties, with lefties having a .456 OPS and righties having a .446 OPS against him. He also has a sweeping slider that he uses well. Magdaleno had a 14.3 strikeout per nine inning rate last year. He did walk 4.4 batters per nine innings which he needs to work on, but he could step into the Blue Jays bullpen immediately and make in impact for them.

Brandon Valenzuela, C, San Diego Padres

Valenzuela is a very good defensive catcher. He is better than average at receiving behind the plate with an above-average arm. He doesn't hit with a lot of power, but as a backup catcher, that isn't something that is necessary. Valenzuela only had a .664 OPS this past season at Double- and Triple-A, but in the Mexican Winter League this winter, he has an OPS of .798, giving hope that there might me more to his offensive skills than we have seen.

Valenzuela was set to be a free agent before he signed a one-year minor league deal with the Padres, but it still leaves him open to the Rule 5 Draft. He could be a strong defensive backup for Alejandro Kirk with the potential to develop a better offensive game as well.

Ryan Ward, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

The corner outfield spot for the Blue Jays wasn't very good last year. Nobody who regularly played in right field or left field for the Blue Jays had above a .375 slugging or a .700 OPS except for Nathan Lukes and that was only over 91 plate appearances.

Ward really only does one thing well, but he absolutely mashes the ball against right handed pitching. This past season in Triple-A he slashed .280/.342/.600 with 28 home runs and 89 RBI against right-handed pitching. The Blue Jays can absolutely use more pop in their lineup and they don't have anyone in an outfield spot that rakes like Ward can. He's not likely a full-time player (yet), but he can come in and add some power to a lineup that is desperately lacking it outside of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.