2018 Draft bonus pools, pick values

Royals have largest allotment, followed by Tigers, Rays

May 27th, 2018
;

0:00

0:00

      While the Tigers have the No. 1 overall choice in the 2018 Draft, they don't have the largest bonus pool.
      By virtue of adding two late first-round picks as compensation for the loss of free agents and , the Royals have the biggest allotment at $12,781,900. The Rays, who gained two late first-rounders for the departure of free agent Alex Cobb and the failure to sign 2017 supplemental first-rounder Drew Rasmussen, rank second at $12,415,600. Detroit is a close third at $12,414,800, falling behind Tampa Bay after the Cardinals signed free agent Greg Holland and shuffled the picks from 59 through 76.
      :: 2018 Draft coverage ::
      MLB notified teams of the official pools for Draft and international spending in 2018 on Wednesday. Each pick in the first 10 rounds of the Draft has an assigned value, and the total for each of a club's selections equals what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty. Any bonus money above $125,000 given to an individual player picked in rounds 11-40 also counts against a team's allotment.
      The assigned slots are 4.2 percent higher than last year, reflecting the increase in MLB's annual revenues. Detroit's No. 1 overall choice is valued at $8,096,300, up from $7,770,700 in 2017.
      Seven clubs have eight-figure bonus pools. In addition to the Royals, Rays and Tigers, that group includes the Giants ($11,747,500), Reds ($10,900,400), White Sox ($10,589,900) and Pirates ($10,390,400). The Dodgers, who have a full complement of picks, but select last in each round because they won an MLB-best 104 games last season, have the smallest pool at $5,288,200.
      The pools for all 30 teams total $255,969,600, an average of $8,532,320 per club. Last year, they combined to spend a record $287,575,870 on Draft bonuses, including $45,435,100 after the 10th round.
      Since the bonus pool system was introduced in 2012, no player has signed for more than the $7.23 million Hunter Greene received from the Reds as the No. 2 overall choice in 2017. The Tigers and other teams at the top of the Draft -- the Giants at No. 2 (valued at $7,494,600) and the Phillies at No. 3 ($6,947,500) -- likely will spend less than their full allotment for those selections and use the savings to spend more on later picks.
      If a player selected in the first 10 rounds doesn't sign, his pick's value is subtracted from his club's pool. If a team exceeds its allotment, it faces a penalty.
      A team that outspends its pool by 0-5 percent pays a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, clubs lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.
      In six years with these rules, teams have outspent their allotments a total of 95 times, but never by more than 5 percent. Twenty-one of the 30 clubs exceeded their pools last year.
      Here are the bonus pools for all 30 clubs:

      Royals: $12,781,900
      Rays: $12,415,600
      Tigers: $12,414,800
      Giants: $11,747,500
      Reds: $10,900,400
      White Sox: $10,589,900
      Padres: $10,462,000
      Pirates: $10,390,400
      Mets: $9,580,900
      A's: $9,553,200
      Indians: $9,145,200
      Phillies: $8,858,500
      Orioles: $8,754,400
      Marlins: $8,658,400
      Braves: $8,267,300
      Blue Jays: $7,982,100
      Cardinals: $7,968,400
      D-backs: $7,683,700
      Rockies: $7,633,900
      Mariners: $7,555,200
      Cubs: $7,517,100
      Rangers: $7,356,000
      Angels: $6,984,400
      Brewers: $6,611,900
      Yankees: $6,115,100
      Twins: $5,933,200
      Red Sox: $5,723,300
      Nationals: $5,603,800
      Astros: $5,492,900
      Dodgers: $5,288,200
      Here are the assigned values for each pick in the first 10 rounds:
      First Round

      1. Tigers: $8,096,300
      2. Giants: $7,494,600
      3. Phillies: $6,947,500
      4. White Sox: $6,411,400
      5. Reds: $5,946,400
      6. Mets: $5,525,200
      7. Padres: $5,226,500
      8. Braves: $4,980,700
      9. A's: $4,761,500
      10. Pirates: $4,560,200
      11. Orioles: $4,375,100
      12. Blue Jays: $4,200,900
      13. Marlins: $4,038,200
      14. Mariners: $3,883,800
      15. Rangers: $3,738,500
      16. Rays: $3,603,500
      17. Angels: $3,472,900
      18. Royals: $3,349,300
      19. Cardinals: $3,231,700
      20. Twins: $3,120,000
      21. Brewers: $3,013,600
      22. Rockies: $2,912,300
      23. Yankees: $2,815,900
      24. Cubs: $2,724,000
      25. D-backs: $2,636,400
      26. Red Sox: $2,552,800
      27. Nationals: $2,472,700
      28. Astros: $2,399,400
      29. Indians: $2,332,700
      30. Dodgers: $2,275,800
        Compensation picks
      31. Rays: $2,224,400
      32. Rays: $2,171,700
      33. Royals: $2,118,700
      34. Royals: $2,066,700
      35. Indians: $2,016,400
        Competitive Balance Round A
      36. Pirates: $1,967,900
      37. Orioles: $1,923,500
      38. Padres: $1,878,300
      39. D-backs: $1,834,500
      40. Royals: $1,786,300
      41. Indians: $1,744,800
      42. Rockies: $1,704,000
      43. Cardinals: $1,664,200
        Second Round
      44. Tigers: $1,625,500
      45. Giants: $1,587,600
      46. White Sox: $1,556,100
      47. Reds: $1,520,300
      48. Mets: $1,485,100
      49. Braves: $1,450,500
      50. A's: $1,414,200
      51. Pirates: $1,382,400
      52. Blue Jays: $1,350,000
      53. Marlins: $1,318,500
      54. Mariners: $1,287,800
      55. Rangers: $1,257,500
      56. Rays: $1,228,000
      57. Angels: $1,196,500
      58. Royals: $1,168,300
      59. Twins: $1,140,600
      60. Brewers: $1,113,500
      61. Yankees: $1,086,900
      62. Cubs: $1,060,900
      63. D-backs: $1,035,500
      64. Red Sox: $1,010,500
      65. Nationals: $986,200
      66. Astros: $965,300
      67. Indians: $939,700
      68. Dodgers: $917,000
        Competitive Balance Round B
      69. Marlins: $894,600
      70. A's: $872,400
      71. Rays: $850,700
      72. Reds: $837,700
      73. Brewers: $824,900
      74. Padres: $812,200
        Compensation Picks
      75. Cardinals: $799,600
      76. Rockies: $787,200
      77. Cubs: $775,100
      78. Cubs: $762,900
        Third Round:
      79. Tigers: $750,800
      80. Giants: $738,700
      81. White Sox: $726,700
      82. Reds: $716,000
      83. Mets: $705,300
      84. Padres: $694,500
      85. A's: $683,800
      86. Pirates: $673,200
      87. Orioles: $663,200
      88. Blue Jays: $652,900
      89. Marlins: $642,600
      90. Mariners: $632,700
      91. Rangers: $622,800
      92. Rays: $613,400
      93. Angels: $604,100
      94. Royals: $594,800
      95. Cardinals: $587,600
      96. Rockies: $581,900
      97. Yankees: $576,400
      98. Cubs: $570,600
      99. D-backs: $565,100
      100. Red Sox: $559,600
      101. Nationals: $555,100
      102. Astros: $549,700
      103. Indians: $544,200
      104. Dodgers: $538,800
        Fourth round
      105. Tigers: $533,300
      106. Giants: $528,200
      107. Phillies: $522,900
      108. White Sox: $517,800
      109. Reds: $512,800
      110. Mets: $507,800
      111. Padres: $502,800
      112. Braves: $497,800
      113. A's: $493,000
      114. Pirates: $488,200
      115. Orioles: $483,300
      116. Blue Jays: $478,600
      117. Marlins: $474,000
      118. Mariners: $469,400
      119. Rangers: $464,700
      120. Rays: $460,200
      121. Angels: $455,700
      122. Royals: $451,200
      123. Cardinals: $446,900
      124. Twins: $442,600
      125. Brewers: $438,300
      126. Rockies: $434,700
      127. Yankees: $430,400
      128. Cubs: $426,100
      129. D-backs: $422,100
      130. Red Sox: $417,800
      131. Nationals: $414,500
      132. Astros: $410,400
      133. Indians: $406,300
      134. Dodgers: $402,300
        Fifth round
      135. Tigers: $398,300
      136. Giants: $394,600
      137. Phillies: $390,600
      138. White Sox: $386,800
      139. Reds: $382,900
      140. Mets: $379,400
      141. Padres: $375,600
      142. Braves: $371,900
      143. A's: $368,200
      144. Pirates: $364,600
      145. Orioles: $361,000
      146. Blue Jays: $357,500
      147. Marlins: $354,000
      148. Mariners: $350,600
      149. Rangers: $347,100
      150. Rays: $343,600
      151. Angels: $340,300
      152. Royals: $337,000
      153. Cardinals: $333,700
      154. Twins: $330,400
      155. Brewers: $327,100
      156. Rockies: $323,800
      157. Yankees: $320,700
      158. Cubs: $317,600
      159. D-backs: $314,800
      160. Red Sox: $311,800
      161. Nationals: $308,900
      162. Astros: $306,100
      163. Indians: $303,400
      164. Dodgers: $300,600
        Sixth Round
      165. Tigers: $297,800
      166. Giants: $295,200
      167. Phillies: $292,700
      168. White Sox: $290,200
      169. Reds: $287,700
      170. Mets: $285,200
      171. Padres: $282,700
      172. Braves: $280,400
      173. A's: $278,000
      174. Pirates: $275,600
      175. Orioles: $273,400
      176. Blue Jays: $271,100
      177. Marlins: $268,900
      178. Mariners: $266,600
      179. Rangers: $264,400
      180. Rays: $262,200
      181. Angels: $260,100
      182. Royals: $258,000
      183. Cardinals: $255,900
      184. Twins: $253,700
      185. Brewers: $251,700
      186. Rockies: $249,600
      187. Yankees: $247,600
      188. Cubs: $245,600
      189. D-backs: $243,700
      190. Red Sox: $241,600
      191. Nationals: $239,600
      192. Astros: $237,600
      193. Indians: $235,600
      194. Dodgers: $233,800
        Seventh Round
      195. Tigers: $231,900
      196. Giants: $229,900
      197. Phillies: $228,000
      198. White Sox: $226,200
      199. Reds: $224,200
      200. Mets: $222,300
      201. Padres: $221,000
      202. Braves: $219,100
      203. A's: $217,200
      204. Pirates: $215,500
      205. Orioles: $213,700
      206. Blue Jays: $211,900
      207. Marlins: $210,200
      208. Mariners: $208,400
      209. Rangers: $206,800
      210. Rays: $205,200
      211. Angels: $203,500
      212. Royals: $201,800
      213. Cardinals: $200,300
      214. Twins: $198,700
      215. Brewers: $197,000
      216. Rockies: $195,700
      217. Yankees: $194,000
      218. Cubs: $192,500
      219. D-backs: $191,000
      220. Red Sox: $189,800
      221. Nationals: $188,300
      222. Astros: $187,000
      223. Indians: $185,600
      224. Dodgers: $184,200
        Eighth Round:
      225. Tigers: $182,900
      226. Giants: $181,700
      227. Phillies: $180,600
      228. White Sox: $179,200
      229. Reds: $177,700
      230. Mets: $176,700
      231. Padres: $175,400
      232. Braves: $174,300
      233. A's: $173,000
      234. Pirates: $171,800
      235. Orioles: $170,700
      236. Blue Jays: $169,600
      237. Marlins: $168,400
      238. Mariners: $167,400
      239. Rangers: $166,400
      240. Rays: $165,600
      241. Angels: $164,700
      242. Royals: $163,800
      243. Cardinals: $163,100
      244. Twins: $162,100
      245. Brewers: $161,400
      246. Rockies: $160,700
      247. Yankees: $159,800
      248. Cubs: $159,100
      249. D-backs: $158,500
      250. Red Sox: $157,700
      251. Nationals: $157,200
      252. Astros: $156,500
      253. Indians: $155,900
      254. Dodgers: $155,300
        Ninth Round:
      255. Tigers: $154,700
      256. Giants: $154,200
      257. Phillies: $153,600
      258. White Sox: $153,200
      259. Reds: $152,600
      260. Mets: $152,100
      261. Padres: $151,600
      262. Braves: $151,200
      263. A's: $150,700
      264. Pirates: $150,200
      265. Orioles: $149,900
      266. Blue Jays: $149,400
      267. Marlins: $149,000
      268. Mariners: $148,700
      269. Rangers: $148,300
      270. Rays: $147,800
      271. Angels: $147,500
      272. Royals: $147,100
      273. Cardinals: $146,800
      274. Twins: $146,500
      275. Brewers: $146,200
      276. Rockies: $145,900
      277. Yankees: $145,600
      278. Cubs: $145,100
      279. D-backs: $144,800
      280. Red Sox: $144,600
      281. Nationals: $144,400
      282. Astros: $144,100
      283. Indians: $143,800
      284. Dodgers: $143,600
        10th Round:
      285. Tigers: $143,300
      286. Giants: $142,800
      287. Phillies: $142,600
      288. White Sox: $142,300
      289. Reds: $142,100
      290. Mets: $141,800
      291. Padres: $141,600
      292. Braves: $141,400
      293. A's: $141,200
      294. Pirates: $140,800
      295. Orioles: $140,600
      296. Blue Jays: $140,200
      297. Marlins: $140,000
      298. Mariners: $139,800
      299. Rangers: $139,500
      300. Rays: $139,300
      301. Angels: $139,100
      302. Royals: $138,900
      303. Cardinals: $138,600
      304. Twins: $138,400
      305. Brewers: $138,200
      306. Rockies: $138,100
      307. Yankees: $137,800
      308. Cubs: $137,600
      309. D-backs: $137,300
      310. Red Sox: $137,100
      311. Nationals: $136,900
      312. Astros: $136,800
      313. Indians: $136,800
      314. Dodgers: $136,800
      Did you like this story?

      Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow @jimcallisMLB on Twitter. Listen to him on the weekly Pipeline Podcast.