The Rule V Draft quietly closes out the Winter Meetings every year and that means the draft is kicking off. The KC Royals could definitely lose a player (Jon Keck) and could select a player at number 8 (though they have a full 40-man roster). Because so many teams have full rosters, this could be a fairly quiet draft.

Here is a run down of the Rule V Draft:

 Major league teams must protect players on their 40-man rosters within three or four years of their original signing. Those left unprotected are available to other teams as Rule 5 picks.

Players who were 18 or younger on June 5 preceding the signing of their first contract must be protected after four minor league seasons. Players 19 and older must be protected after three seasons.

…  each Rule 5 pick must be kept in the major leagues the entire following season or be offered back to his former team for half of the $50,000 selection price.

Not surprisingly (at least to me), the Houston Astros took right-handed reliever Josh Fields, who pitched in Triple-A for the Boston Red Sox by the end of last season. I had the chance to see him pitch last year and he has turned his career around. With how bad the Red Sox have been, I was shocked they did not protect him. I see Fields sticking with the Astros and being a key cog in the back end of their bullpen.

The following three players I also saw pitch the last two seasons.

Hector Rondon returned to the bullpen in the Cleveland Indians organization in 2012 after having three injury-riddled seasons (though for just seven innings). He looked good and was glad to be back pitching. He currently is pitching pretty well in Venezuela but was selected by the Chicago Cubs, who also need bullpen help

Danny Rosenbaum pitching in Wilmington in 2011 with the Potomac Nationals

Danny Rosenbaum of the Washington Nationals was selected by the Colorado Rockies, who are in desperate need of starting pitching. The lefty pitched very well in Double-A and was an Eastern League All-Star (3.94 ERA in 26 starts with 99 strikeouts). It was the first year he had an ERA over 2.59 since signing in 2009.

The Minnesota Twins selected lefty Ryan Pressly of the Red Sox with the fourth pick. He struggled the last two seasons with High-A Salem as a starting pitcher, but after moving to the bullpen, he turned his career around. In Double-A, he made 14 relief appearances to a 2.93 ERA.

The Cleveland Indians selected the current AFL MVP: first baseman Chris McGuinness of Texas. The Indians need a first baseman, so he should get a shot. He hit .268 in Double-A during the regular season, hit 25 doubles, 23 homeruns, and drove in 77.

The Miami Marlins selected LA Dodgers outfielder Alfredo Silverio. Considering no one knows what is going on with the Marlins, he probably has a legitimate shot of making the club out of spring training.

The Red Sox had the seventh pick and after losing two pitchers already, they selected a second baseman (because they do not already have an MVP candidate playing there). They picked Jeff Kobernus of the Nationals, who before being plunked in the ribs in August (and broke a few), was rumored to be a September callup. Like Rosenbaum, he was an Eastern League All-Star and hit .282 with 42 stolen bases. UPDATE: Kobernus was then traded to the Detroit Tigers, which makes a lot more sense.

The Royals had the next pick and they passed, which became the theme for the rest of the MLB phase. Only eight more players were selected over the next 29.

The Royals also passed on the Triple-A and Double-A phase. However, they lost five players in the Triple-A phase (no players were selected in the Double-A phase).

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After the KC Royals declined former closer Joakim Soria’s $8 million option for next season, I thought the Royals would try to bring him back at a cheaper price.

Prior to succumbing to his second Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2012 season, Soria was one of the game’s best closers. Yet he rarely garnered much recognition.

I had heard that a few big name teams were interested in him (like Boston), but he had kept stating his desire to close.

However on Day 1 of the winter meetings in Nashville, it was announced that Soria did sign with one of those big name teams. He signed a two year deal with the Texas Rangers, but he will be setting up Joe Nathan. The deal is expected to be worth $8 million with a possible third year option. He is expected in Arlington tomorrow for a physical.

The Rangers took a flyer on Nathan last off season after he had recovered from TJS and it worked out pretty well. Now Soria has someone to go to with questions regarding his recovery.

Soria is just 28 years old and is one of the best Rule V draft stories. The Royals plucked him in 2006 and he now ranks third in the franchise in saves (160). He also carries a career 2.40 ERA and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

In other winter meetings news…

*Former (and seldom used) outfielder Mitch Maier signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.

*DH Billy Butler is in a lot of conversations in Nashville. The Seattle Mariners still REALLY want him. Despite the fact that the TB Rays signed first baseman James Loney, they are still interested in Butler. The Baltimore Orioles need a big bat in the middle of their order. The M’s and Rays are better choices for the Royals to deal with because of their pitching depth.

With the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings set to begin tomorrow morning in Nashville, Tennessee, I figured I’d ask which KC Royals rumor you would like to come true.

• Trading top prospect Wil Myers to either the Boston Red Sox for lefty Jon Lester or to the TB Rays for right-hander James Shields. Do you even want to see Myers traded?

• A trade of righty Luke Hochevar

• A trade of veteran lefty Bruce Chen

• Acquiring knuckleballer RA Dickey from the NY Mets for a bunch of minor leaguers

• Signing free agent starter Ryan Dempster

• Sign newly free agent pitchers Jair Jurrjens or Jeff Karstens? Remember last year when GM Dayton Moore was going to trade Myers to the Braves for the oft-injured Jurrjens?

• Trade a bullpen piece like Aaron Crow to the Detroit Tigers for starter Rick Porcello.

• Trade third baseman Mike Moustakas to the Chicago White Sox for Gavin Floyd.

• Trade Alex Gordon or Billy Butler to the Seattle Mariners for some of their young pitching, like Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, and Taijuan Walker.

Let me know which deal you would like to see happen. I’m leaning towards a deal with the Mets for Dickey, mainly because he wouldn’t cost the Royals one of their current stars or Myers.

The MLB Winter Meetings are all about the rumors and the deals. This year, all the talk seems to be about Albert Pujols, the Miami Marlins (the signings and the Hanley Ramirez drama), Jimmy Rollins, CJ Wilson, Prince Fielder, and the trades.

• When it comes to the KC Royals, all the talk has been rumors. The team entered the meetings listening to offers for closer Joakim Soria with the signing of free agent reliever Jonathan Broxton. However, as expected, the Royals want a front-line starter.

On Intentional Talk, hosts Chris Rose and Kevin Millar discussed the topic of trading Soria. Both agreed with me, that it would be stupid considering there are too many what if’s linked to Broxton and the returning depth of the bullpen.

• Then there was word that they were also listening on offers for reliever Greg Holland. Considering he came on really strong in the second half in his first season in the big leagues, I’m not sure the Royals would get much for him (unless they packaged him in a deal). The Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be the most interested in Holland, though they just acquired a new closer, Sergio Santos of the Chicago White Sox.

• The one need the Royals are looking to fill is the bench, particularly a utility man. They could fill this role in January or even early February as the non-tender candidates hit the market. They are rumored to be interested in players like Craig Counsell, Willie Harris, and Andres Blanco (who came up through the Royals system). I am thinking that Counsell and Harris would be more interested in joining a contender and have more teams interested in them.

Then came word that they are interested in former Detroit Tigers Carlos Guillen. Seriously? First off, he’s 36 years old. Second, he’s barely played the last three years due to injuries. Sure, he was a part of the Tigers in 2006 in their World Series run, but I’m not sure he’ll fit in.

• The Oakland A’s Gio Gonzalez has been the trade piece everyone has been talking about lately. It seems quite a few teams covet the lefty who has yet to be stricken with an arm injury. The biggest need for the A’s is outfielders, as their starting three have all elected free agency (and one has already signed elsewhere). It has been rumored for over a month that the Royals are interested in Gonzalez. It would make sense considering he is a front-line starter, but not now that they have acquired lefty Jonathan Sanchez and re-signed veteran lefty Bruce Chen. That would give the Royals four potential left-handed starters in their rotation (including Danny Duffy). The A’s want right fielder Wil Myers and the Royals may be willing to part with him if they can net Gonzalez. Maybe they could send the A’s Sanchez too.

The Philadelphia Phillies (who once had him in their farm system) are rumored to be interested and would be willing to part with once untouchable outfielder Domonic Brown. However now the rumors are that the Phillies are out (they were willing to part with either Kyle Kendrick or Joe Blanton). The NY Yankees have shown interest, but don’t have a ton of young outfield talent in the minors (outside of Melky Mesa, Brandon Laird, and maybe Ray Kruml). The Boston Red Sox have jumped in the loop, though rumors are out there that the A’s asked for third baseman Will Middlebrooks. The Detroit Tigers are pushing hard, but see the Jacob Turner asking price a little high.

Word is that Gio will not be traded during the winter meetings because right now, the haul is not good enough.

• Assistant GM JJ Picollo interviewed for the open Houston Astros GM job on Monday night.

• Also, the Rule V draft will be held at the conclusion of the winter meetings on Thursday. The Royals have a full 40-man, so right now, they cannot make a selection. Baseball America has listed a few intriguing picks, and Royals lefties Blaine Hardy and Brandon Sisk are on that list. Here is what the magazine had to say about the two:

Blaine Hardy and Brandon Sisk, lhps, Royals: The Royals offer a pair of lefty specialists up for bids. Sisk has better stuff, with a fastball and changeup that earn average grades from scouts to go with a fringy curveball. He finished 2011 on a roll, posting a 1.41 ERA and striking out 30 in 32 innings at Triple-A Omaha while giving up just 16 hits. Hardy, like Sisk, started the year at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and was better there before posting a 7.14 ERA at Omaha. Hardy relies more on deception with a short-arm delivery and has a better breaking ball in his average slider. He also throws a curve and a changeup.

*Did I mention all the rumors? If not, let me know!