Cubs escape Rule 5 draft untouched while stealing a pitcher from a division rival

The Winter Meetings are wrapping up, and it seems that the Chicago Cubs won't be making any moves of consequence this week. They remain interest kings of the offseason, hanging around in the free-agent sweepstakes for Alex Bregman, potentially considering a trade for a cost-controlled starting pitcher, or simply waiting until Tatsuya Imai makes his decision.

One of the last housecleaning items to take place at the offseason's tentpole event is the Rule 5 draft. As a reminder, if a player is taken during the Major League phase of the draft, they must remain on the team's roster for the duration of the regular season.

Look no further than last offseason when the Cubs selected third baseman Gage Workman from the Detroit Tigers. Workman became a Spring Training sensation, going on a heater that earned him a spot on the Major League roster, but to the surprise of no one, he didn't make it ot the All-Star break with the Cubs.

Cubs avoid a pick in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 draft, steal arms away from the Yankees and Cardinals in the minor league phase.

There will be no sequel to the Workman this story this offseason. While a spring training folk hero likely will emerge for the Cubs, it won't be from the Rule 5 draft, as the North Siders passed on their selection during the Major League phase.

On the other side of the coin, none of the eligible Cubs prospects were taken during any phase of the draft.

In the minor-league portion of the draft, the Cubs took a pitching prospect away from both the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees. They also added an infielder from the San Diego Padres.

The rules surrounding minor-league selections aren't as restrictive, considering the prospect is not added to the team's 40-man roster. There are also several scenarios where the Cubs could strike a deal with the Padres, Yankees, and Cardinals, often involving cash considerations, to have full control over the prospects.

In total, the Cubs made three selections during the minor-league phase, selecting Class-A pitcher Adam Stone from the New York Yankees, Double-A pitcher Zane Mills from the St. Louis Cardinals, and Double-A infielder Devin Ortiz from the San Diego Padres.

Stone hasn't pitched since 2023, Mills struck out over 24% of the hitters he faced across Double-A and Triple-A last season, and Ortiz posted a 94 wRC+ in 532 plate appearances at the Double-A level.

If nothing else, these are free lottery tickets for the Cubs. If just one of them proves to be a success story, that would be an ideal outcome.