Can you twist a guy that was on the roster (according to baseball-reference.com) for a certain year but who doesn't show up in the draft pool for that year? Example, Pop-boy Smith 1916 is in the draft pool but not in 1917, although he's listed as playing that year too in b-r.
I had to scramble to find the last few cheap slots that will fulfill the theme's requirements. (This, I assume, is normal? It's my first themed league.)
I haven't heard back yet from my commissioner and I assume he's the final authority. But I can enter my team if the above is totally standard.