what is the fifth round draft rule for baseball players?

Answer 1

I assume you are talking about the Rule V draft. About four years after signing their first contract, players must go on the 40-man roster. Otherwise, they are eligible to be drafted by other teams in the Rule V draft.

Here's the catch -- the drafting team must keep the new player on its major league roster for the full season. The cost is $50,000. Otherwise, it must offer him back to the old team for half of the purchase price. So, you'd better be sure before taking a player under those circumstances.

The most famous Rule V pick was Roberto Clemente. Branch Rickey was with the Pirates then, and he knew about Clemente and how he was "hiding" in the Dodgers' organization. That worked out well for Pittsburgh.

Answer 2

Are you thinking of the rule 5 draft?? That basically keeps teams from stockpiling talent in their minor league systems. If a team has a good young player and the team won't put him in the big leagues, another team who is willing to pay the player money can get him in the rule 5 draft at the December meetings. That player must automatically be placed on the big league teams 40 man roster. There are a lot of exceptions and exemptions to this. Wikipedia gives a pretty good description of it.