With the Major League portion of the Winter Meetings being cancelled due to the lockout, that portion of the 2021 Rule 5 Draft will no longer be held this week. However, the Minor League rounds of the Rule 5 draft will still take place as scheduled.
Before the work stoppage, the Los Angeles Dodgers protected Jacob Amaya, Michael Grove, Eddys Leonard, James Outman and Jorbit Vivas from potentially being selected by adding them to their 40-man roster last month. In order to do so, the club had to create room by designating Billy McKinney and Zach Reks for assignment
While it was possible for both players to remain in the organization if they cleared waivers, McKinney and Reks were eventually traded to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.
McKinney has since been non-tendered by the Rangers, but it appears Reks will remain with the club going forward. He recently took to Instagram to thank the Dodgers for giving him his first big league opportunity and expressed excitement about beginning a new chapter with Texas:
Reks was selected out of the University of Kentucky by the Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and made his big league debut this year. He went hitless and struck out seven times in 10 at-bats over six games with L.A.
Despite struggling in his limited Major League opportunities, Reks found plenty of success with Triple-A Oklahoma City. At the time of getting recalled in June, he ranked in the top four of the Triple-A West in doubles (14), runs scored (32) and on-base percentage (.445).
Seager thanks Dodgers in Instagram post
McKinney and Reks added to a growing list of former Dodgers who have made their way to the Rangers organization throughout the year.
Texas previously traded for Dennis Santana after he was DFA’d in June, and claimed DJ Peters off waivers in August. Josh Sborz also was traded to the team following his DFA in Spring Training.
Corey Seager has since joined the group after signing a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers. Like Reks, he recently thanked the Dodgers and his former teammates in a heartfelt Instagram post.
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