Article: MLB Announces 2024 Draft, 2025 International Signing Period Bonus Pools

[Jamie Cameron]

MLB today announced the 2024 draft and 2025 international signing period bonus pools. Read to find out where the Cubs rank financially against other MLB organizations.

Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp

Today, MLB released bonus pool allocations and pick values for the 2024 MLB Draft. Additionally, MLB released international signing bonus pools for the 2025 signing period.

The Cubs have the 19th largest bonus pool overall, at $9,802,300. 

The Cubs top 100 picks and slot values are as follows:
Slot value for pick 14: $5,070,700
Slot value for pick 54: $1,681,200
Slot value for pick 90: $826,000

Similarly to 2023, the Cubs are limited in terms of both financial flexibility and picks to leverage in a draft class shaping up to be weaker than 2023, but with a deep crop of college talent.

Reminders on Draft Financials
Organizations are allowed to spend up to 5% more than their total pool without incurring a penalty, a choice many teams take advantage of. The Twins and the Rockies are the only MLB teams who have never spent any overage on their bonus pool. Any amount up to 5% over the pool is met with a 75% tax on the overage. If a team spends between 5-10% more than their pool, the penalty is 75% tax on the overage and loss of a future first rounder. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 10% up to 15% pays 100% tax on the overage and will lose a first and second round future pick. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 15% loses two future first round picks in addition to paying 100% tax on the overage.

Rounds 11-20 work differently to the first half of the draft. These picks do not come with an assigned slot value. Teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without that spending coming out of their bonus pool. If they spend over that amount, any overage will be deducted from their bonus pool. For example, an 11th round pick signing for $250,000 will result in $100,000 being subtracted from that teams’ bonus pool. 

MLB Announces 2025 International Bonus Pools
MLB announced bonus pools for the 2025 international signing period today. The 2025 signing window opens on January 15th, 2025 and runs through December 15th, 2025. The Cubs are in a group of twelve teams who rank middle of the pack in possible spending. The Cubs can spend $6,261,600 in the 2025 international signing window.

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