The Rule 5 Draft, which involves players not on a team's 40-man roster who have played professionally for at least five years if signed at 18 or younger or at least four years if signed at 19 or older, requires that the selecting team place that player on its active roster. If a player is selected in the Rule 5 Draft, he has to stay on the Major League 25-man roster for the entire season or be offered back to his original organization.
Tavarez, who has played all three outfield positions, hit .330/.374/.495 last season between Boston's Triple-A and Double-A clubs.