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The Washington Nationals lost two prospects in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft this past December, but neither player stuck with the teams that selected them and over the last two days both players were returned to the Nats. The Detroit Tigers, who made a Draft day deal with Boston, sent 24-year-old '09 2nd Round pick Jeff Kobernus back to the Nationals on Saturday once they decided that the IF/OF they acquired from the Sox would not make their Opening Day roster. Word out of Detroit is that the Tigers tried and failed to work out a trade with Washington. "Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said he attempted to work out a trade with the Nationals the last couple days," MLive.com's James Schmeml wrote yesterday, "but the suggested asking price was too steep."
Kobernus was 11 for 50 with two triples with Detroit this Spring. He was sent to the Nats' minor league camp once they accepted him back from the defending American League champions.
This afternoon the Nationals announced that the Colorado Rockies had returned the other player taken from the Nats in the Rule 5 Draft. 25-year-old, '09 22nd Round pick Danny Rosenbaum, who was (8-10) with a 3.94 ERA, 3.41 FIP, 39 walks (2.26 BB/9) and 99 Ks (5.74 K/9) in 26 games and 155.1 IP at Double-A Harrisburg in 2012, was (2-1) with a 4.50 ERA, nine hits, three walks and four runs allowed in 8.0 IP this Spring before the Rockies determined that he wouldn't make their Opening Day roster and returned him to the Nationals this afternoon. The Nationals announced that they had accepted him back via their official Twitter account (@Nationals):
OFFICIAL: #Nats have accepted Rule 5 pick LHP Daniel Rosenbaum back from #Rockies
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 24, 2013
No word on whether or not the Rockies tried to work out a deal, but the Nationals have another left-handed minor leaguer back in the organization after dealing some of their pitching depth off over the last couple winters.