The MLB.com prospect squad picks one unprotected player from each team as Rule 5 draft possibilities. From the A's, they point out Richie Martin, who could be an intriguing choice for a team that can afford the roster spot because his defense is probably MLB-quality right now. The Marlins or the Reds or the Padres or the Rangers could pay some retread to be their utility man or they can grab Martin, let him play the eighth and ninth innings of some games and give him a few at-bats against major-league pitchers here and there, and see how the whole thing goes. The risk, of course, is that it's his bat that most needs reps to develop if he's going to be a plausible major-league player, so by jumping him straight from Double-A to the majors, you may hurt his development so much that rather than altering his path, you simply end it.

On the A's end, given that their starting pitching is what it is, they could take one of the pitchers highlighted in the article, give them a shot at earning the no. 5 rotation spot in spring training, and ship them back home if they don't hold up. Possibilities for that path might include Alex Young (Padres), Brandon Waddell (Pirates), Tom Eshelman (Phillies), Foster Griffin (Royals), Tyler Alexander (Tigers), Spencer Adams (White Sox), and Luis Gonzalez (Orioles).