The Pirates selected infielder Josh Rodriguez with the first pick and then the Mariners followed by selecting RHP Jose Flores. The Indians received $50,000 for each player, and the players must remain on the big league roster of their respective teams or be offered back to the Indians for half the price.

Rodriguez is a 26-year-old versatile middle infielder who also has experience at third base and in the outfield. The Pirates expect him to compete for a utility infielder’s job. Rodriguez is a decent player and I don’t expect him to be offered back to the Indians.

While Rodriguez was considered somewhat of a lock to be picked, Flores, 21, was a surprise, as he was expected to start the season in high class A Kinston or AA Akron, but definitely not the majors, as he will with the Mariners. He had a good season at low class A Lake County (2.14 ERA, 51 Ks, 42 IP), but my guess is that he doesn’t stick.

One player who did not get selected was RHP Adam Miller. The former first-round pick is recovering from four finger surgeries and trying to make a career as a reliever. Apparently there weren’t any teams willing to take the medical risk. Good luck to you Adam, hopefully we will see you in Cleveland, someday (preferably as a member of the Indians).
UPDATE: Here’s what Nathanial Stoltz of Fansided’s Call to the Pen says about Rodriguez, and in a separate post, Flores.

• While none of the adds were a shock, I was surprised to see Goedert added, since I had figured the Indians had dismissed him as an option as the third base starter since he did not receive a September call-up. However the Indians must feel that Goedert still has value as a utility player, or they felt he would surely be selected in the Rule 5 draft. I’m not arguing with the selection, I’m just surprised the Indians had a change of heart.
• McAllister was another mild surprise. I figured he’d be on the 40-man sometime this season, but seeing as he projects as a back-end starter, I was a little surprised they decided to protect him now. On the other hand, he’s close to big-league ready, and some team might see him as a young, cheap arm they could snag and use.
• Kluber was an easy call, as he’s 24 and was the player the Indians received from the Padres in the three team deal that sent Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals. Kluber strikes out a lot of guys, 157 Ks in 149 IP at Double-A (split between San Antonio and Akron), and he projects as a middle of the rotation starter.
• You might recall that I was asking for Hagadone to be called up in September. He’s another one of the guys acquired in the Victor Martinez deal, and although he seems to be destined to be a reliever (much like another pitcher the Indians acquired in that deal…) he’s got good stuff and could be a factor this season.
• Finally, Judy was an absolute no-brainer, as he was almost called up in September. He’ll get a shot to make the big-league pen in 2011, and could end up being a dominant back end of the pen-type guy. And yes, he’s going to replace Andy Marte as Deep Left Field’s new poster child. I mean, how can you not root for a 34th round pick (2007)?
• Perhaps the only surprise non-roster was RHP Adam Miller. Yeah, the former top prospect who was going to be an ace starter, and then a stud closer. He’s recovering from his finger injury and even though he hasn’t thrown an inning in two years he remains an intriguing player, if no longer a prospect. If a team determines he’s healthy (a big if) then I could see him getting claimed, but keep in mind that whatever team claimed him would have to keep him on the big league roster for the entire season, or sell him back to the Indians. He’s not a sure thing to be selected. If I were the Indians, I probably would have made the same decision.

• When I heard the rumor the Chicago White Sox would claim Manny Ramirez of the LA Dodgers when he is placed on waivers, I must admit part of me hoped it wouldn’t happen. Not for anything related to Manny or the White Sox, but more because one of my wildest baseball fantasies is that Sox GM Kenny Williams would get desperate, and claim Indians DH Travis Hafner. It’s pretty unrealistic, as unlike Manny, Hafner sucks, but if it were to happen, it would pretty much be the best thing to ever happen to this team. To which I say, “not very likely though.”
• The Indians and Yankees completed the Austin Kearns deal, acquiring RHP Zach McAllister. McAllister, 22, is in AAA and was ranked the Yankees’ fifth-best prospect going into this season. Unfortunately, he has a 5.09 ERA with 132.2 IP, 165 H, 82R/75 ER, 38 BB, 88 K. Not great numbers, but he’s young, and they got him for Austin Kearns. He’s probably nothing more than a solid back-end starter, but you need those guys to fill out your system and the Tribe only gave up a few months of Austin Kearns. To which I say, “eh.”
• It looks like Jared Goedert might not be a September call-up after all, which frankly kind of sucks. I understand the logic – he’s not hitting as well as he was, and his defense is still shaky. Don’t call up a guy and start blowing his options when he’s not ready. But I honestly don’t know how much more of Nimartuena I can take. To which I say, ” I really wish Acta would stick with one guy.”
• Manny Acta is apparently a fan of Birdman. I’m assuming Anthony Castrovince is not an adult swim fan, because he never connected Birdman to his more recent series on adult swim, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. Kind of surprised me because Castrovince isn’t exactly a dinosaur, in terms of age. To which I say, “everyone has their own tastes.”
• In that same blog by Castrovince listed above, he mentions that Adam Miller is still trying to come back. Good for him, even if it’s still a major long shot. After Miller’s career died I honestly stopped watching prospects for a while. Just kind of sad to see all that potential wasted to injury. To which I say, “if he ever throws a pitch in the majors, it will be a major accomplishment.
• Shin-Soo Choo won the first pick in the Indians fantasy football draft. To which I say, “his drafting can’t be any worse than the Browns.”
• Finally, I don’t tweet much, but @DeepLeftField did send a request to @ChrisPerez54 to change his Twitter picture from one of Perez in a Cardinals uniform to that of an Indians uni. I encourage more tweeters to politely hound Chris to do so. And yes, that’s the real Chris Perez. To which I say, “thankfully, @PureRage_Perez (who is not the real Chris Perez) is not closing up shop.”