lATEST NEWS:The most difficult roster choice for each club before the ….

Teams must establish their 40-man rosters and safeguard players for the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place on December 6 at the Winter Meetings, by Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Here, we’ve tracked the ranked prospects who meet the requirements of Rule 5 for each organization.

Adael Amador, a middle infielder for the Rockies (ranked No. 21), is the first of six Top 100 Prospects who need protection. All six are almost certain to be added to 40-man rosters prior to the deadline.

However, many choices won’t be nearly that simple.

Below, we’ve identified a difficult decision for each organization. We selected a ranked prospect for the most part, but on occasion we went with a player who made a big impression in the recently finished Arizona Fall League season.

C.J. Van Eyk, RHP, American League East Blue Jays (unranked on Blue Jays Top 30)
Van Eyk was a second-round selection in 2020 by Florida State, but he missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2021. This summer, he only played 34 1/3 innings. However, in the Fall Stars Game, he demonstrated one of the best curveballs in the AFL, recording a 2.51 ERA and striking out three batters with three different pitches in one inning of work.

Hudson Haskin, OF, Orioles (Page 17)
Haskin, the Orioles’ second-round selection in 2020, did make it to Triple-A this past season, but he only participated in 33 games due to a hip impingement that needed to be surgically repaired and a hamstring injury. While battling to maintain his health, he has only displayed glimmers of his potential thus far. However, there are some tools here that have some power and speed. This might be difficult given the depth of the Orioles outfield.

Acquired from the Rangers as part of the Nathaniel Lowe trade in December 2020, Hernandez has some of the best power and exit velocities in the Rays system. But he also hit just .249/.376/.411 with 13 homers as a 23-year-old in Double-A and doesn’t offer much defensive value.

A switch-hitter with good bat-to-ball skills and a sound approach at the plate, Castro signed for $100,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019. Still just 20, he might be more of a tweener than a regular and hit .261/.368/.405 with 19 steals at two Class A stops, so the Red Sox probably can sneak him through the Rule 5 Draft.

Dunham quickly became an organization favorite after signing as a nondrafted free agent in 2020 out of Indiana and was the Arizona Fall League’s breakout player of the year in 2021. He doesn’t have a better than average tool, however, and batted .227/.330/.389 with 16 homers and 35 steals between Double-A and Triple-A.

Thanks to his quick hands, Frias is one of the best and most versatile defenders in the Guardians’ system. Signed for $80,000 out of Colombia in 2018, he hit .260/.356/.426 with 11 homers in High-A and could be left unprotected because Cleveland has other infield prospects with higher offensive ceilings.

Part of a package from the Dodgers for Ryan Yarbrough at the Trade Deadline, Mann is 26 and doesn’t have a standout tool. On the flip side, he played all four infield positions as well as left field while batting .276/.387/.502 with 20 homers in Triple-A.