Major League Baseball on Wednesday announced and informed teams of the updated slot values and bonus pools for the 2026 MLB Draft taking place in Philadelphia, July 11-13.
All pick values saw a 2.5 percent increase from 2025, which comes from the overall growth in MLB’s revenue year to year. Coming into the 2026 draft, per Jim Callis of MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs have an $9,644,100 bonus pool. That ranks 20th among all 30 teams this year. The Cubs have the 23rd pick in the first round of the draft. Slotted at No. 23 in round one, they have a slot value of $3,947,600. Because they were a playoff team in 2025, they were ineligible to move up in the lottery since their team was not impacted by other teams. Moving down to No. 25 from No. 17 in 2025, their slot value is $803,200 less than in 2025 for that round one pick.
In 2025, the Cubs selected outfielder Ethan Conrad with their 17th overall pick. Conrad was drafted out of Wake Forest and still had a high upside despite dealing with a shoulder injury.
Moving on to the second round, the Cubs’ No. 62 pick has a slot value of $1,487,200. They will then select at No. 75 with a free-agent compensation pick. That pick is worth $1,120,900 and is in exchange for Kyle Tucker, whom the Dodgers signed in January to a four-year, $240 million deal.
The Cubs will select at No. 98 in round three, which has a slot value of $800,000. In round four, they will select at No. 126, with a slot value of $609,200.
Round five, their slot value for pick No. 159 drops to $441,300, with round six (pick No. 188) at $344,400. As the draft continues, pick No. 217 in round seven has a value of $272,000, and round eight decreases to $224,100 for pick No. 247, followed by round nine (Pick No. 277) at $204,100, and pick No. 307 (tenth and final round) at $193,300 as they round out their draft.
Because the Cubs have a lower pick, it is likely they will spend more than teams with higher picks and higher slot values.
Heading into the draft, the Cubs are predicted to have an offensive-heavy draft, targeting college-level athletes. Prospects they’re said to be targeting include middle infielder Eric Becker out of Virginia, Zion Rose out of Louisville, and second baseman Chris Rembert from Auburn.
Becker is a player with fast bat speed and great instincts at the plate. Rose is a physical, plus-hitter with a lot of power. A Chicago native, Rose would be right at home in Chicago.
Rembert out of Auburn is another target of Chicago’s. He’s a pure hitter with great ability.
The Chicago White Sox have the No.1 pick and will be on the clock on July 11 when the MLB draft begins. They have a slot value of $11,350,600.