5 Cubs prospects could be gone in a flash if left unprotected from Rule 5 Draft

As the Chicago Cubs prepare for another pivotal offseason, a handful of young prospects are now eligible for the Rule 5 Draft—meaning the team must decide who’s worth protecting and who might be plucked away by another club.

The Rule 5 draft is a yearly event that gives MLB teams an opportunity to select players who are not on other teams' 40-man rosters. The draft is designed to prevent teams from clinging to players who could have playing opportunities elsewhere. The selecting team is required to keep the player on its active MLB roster for the entire next season.

Last year, the Cubs notably selected third baseman Gage Workman in the Rule 5 draft. Workman performed well in Spring Training and saw playing time at the hot corner before the team traded him after his poor performance in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs could be the team targeted the most during the Rule 5 draft in December

This year, the Cubs have several notable prospects who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft, and they have until November 18th to trade them, add them to the 40-man roster, or risk losing them to another team.

IF James Triantos

Currently the team's 10th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, James Triantos has primarily played second base in the minors, but he has seen time in the outfield and at third base. The former second-round pick is heading into his age-23 season, and he is known for his speed (78 steals since 2024) and contact-hitting abilities.

In 102 games for the Iowa Cubs in 2025, Triantos posted a .258/.315/.369 slash line, with 20 doubles and 43 RBIs. The Cubs would be wise to protect him to preserve some depth on the infield.

SS Christian Hernandez

A mainstay in the Cubs' prospect rankings in recent years, shortstop Christian Hernandez signed with the team as an international free agent in 2021. Although he hasn't lived up to his initial hype and has only advanced to the High-A level of the minors, Hernandez still has immense hitting potential given his 6'2 frame.

Scouting reports also point to Hernandez having the tools to play shortstop or second base in the majors. Speed has been his most consistent tool, with 150 stolen bases in his minor-league career, including 52 last season.

RHP Connor Noland

Connor Noland was the most consistent starting pitcher for the Iowa Cubs in 2025, logging 132.2 innings with a 4.07 ERA. Noland relies on four offspeed pitches and command for his success, as his fastball velocity sits in the low 90s.

At 26 years old, it's difficult to see a team committing to him pitching in the majors in 2026. But with starting pitching being an expensive commodity in MLB, the Cubs may want to protect him for depth purposes.

2B/3B Pedro Ramirez

Infielder Pedro Ramirez has climbed to No. 8 on the team's top-30 list thanks to his solid contact-hitting and speed. In 129 games for the Knoxville Smokies in 2025, the switch-hitter collected 140 hits, drove in 73 runs, and swiped 28 bags.

The Cubs can likely get away with not protecting Ramirez, as opposing teams may balk at adding a guy to their active roster who is only 21 years old and hasn't even reached Triple-A yet.

RHP Will Sanders

Will Sanders could be a sneaky target for teams this year. The 23-year-old flashed great stuff in nine starts for the Knoxville Smokies in the first half of 2025, with a 2.64 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts over 44.1 innings pitched.

His production took a nosedive after he got promoted to the Iowa Cubs, as Sanders' ERA ballooned to 6.38 over 79 innings at the Triple-A level. But standing at 6'6 with a decent fastball and a strikeout-heavy splitter, Sanders could be an intriguing target if another team thinks they can tweak something with his pitch delivery or convert him to a bullpen arm.