2026 MLB Draft

[Bertz]

31 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

Sounds like a good year to have a late first rounder and 4 picks in the top 100

[Outshined_One]

17 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Sounds like a good year to have a late first rounder and 4 picks in the top 100

Normally I'd agree, but this team has only drafted one HS pitcher since 2023, which is kind of insane when you think about it.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, Outshined_One said:

Normally I'd agree, but this team has only drafted one HS pitcher since 2023, which is kind of insane when you think about it.

They drafted 2 last year (Wing and Franklin).

[Outshined_One]

3 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

They drafted 2 last year (Wing and Franklin).

Don't know how I missed that with Franklin; for some reason I only remembered Wing.

Regardless, they definitely have had a preference in recent memory.

[CubinNY]

On 1/22/2026 at 11:40 AM, CaliforniaRaisin said:

(Sounds like the owners want to get rid of A-ball and only have A+, AA and AAA.)

Can they do that unilaterally or do they need to negotiate it as part of the CBA? I'd really hate it. I'm sure Tom has a 5,000 word post on it somewhere. 

[Bertz]

https://www.mlb.com/draft/2026/order

Cubs current picks are:

23, 62, 75, 99

With only Zac Gallen left as a QO free agent who can impact the order.  A few scenarios:

- If the Cubs sign Gallen, #62 goes poof.  The Cubs latter two picks stay where they are because the Cubs' lost pick is offset by the Dbacks added pick

- If the Dbacks re-sign Gallen, the Cubs picks stay where they are.  No one loses or gains a pick and the draft order is set

- Assuming he doesn't go to the Dbacks or Cubs, the Gallen comp pick will either be #29 or #75 depending on how big the contract is.  These would push the Cubs picks back accordingly

- The team signing Gallen will lose theit 2nd highest remaining pick.  For most teams that pick will lie somewhere in the 40-70 range.  Exceptions are the Mets (92), Jays (104) and Dodgers (134).  Depending on who exactly signs Gallen the Cubs latter picks will all move up

- For most teams the Dbacks added pick and the signing team's lost pick will offset, and the Cubs will stay right where they are

Also, last year's slots for each of the Cubs' top 4 picks are

23 - $3.85M

62 - $1.45M

75 - $1.09M

99 - $0.77M

So with the 5% overage the Cubs should be able to easily get four and maybe even finagle five $1M+ bonuses.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

On 2/9/2026 at 9:40 AM, CubinNY said:

Can they do that unilaterally or do they need to negotiate it as part of the CBA? I'd really hate it. I'm sure Tom has a 5,000 word post on it somewhere. 

Yeah, this would be a part of the CBA negotiation, driven by the owners' desire to cut down even more minor league affiliates.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

18 scouting directors from MLB clubs gave their opinion on the 2026 draft: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-scouting-departments-grade-the-2026-mlb-draft-class/

[JBears79]

Good year to have 4 picks in the top 100. I expect another pitching heavy draft for the Cubs.

[Jason Ross]

30 minutes ago, JBears79 said:

Good year to have 4 picks in the top 100. I expect another pitching heavy draft for the Cubs.

Probably more so now that Zombro will be a heavy influence in the draft process. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Happy college baseball opening day! Hoping to get out to Jackie Robinson tonight to see Roch and my undergrad school host my grad school.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Really liked Cam coming out of HS. Would be great for him if he's finally settling in in college. He obviously has 1st round talent.

 

[Jason Ross]

Jaxon Jelkin was killer for Kentucky today. Struck out 10, walked none, in just 4 innings. Fastball was hitting 96mph from a low slot. 

Kid has had all sorts of arm issues but had TJS and is fresh off it. Name I'm going to follow through the year; he looked legit today. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Jason Ross]

7 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

Friday the 13th, man. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

With Gallen re-signing with the Diamondbacks, the Cubs are locked into 23, 62 and 75 before the third down.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

Quote

This class is meaty with college players whose grades would ordinarily put them in the middle of the first round. Players who, on talent, might normally be drafted in the pick 10-15 range, give or take, will still be around at pick 25.

.

Quote

For what seems like the fourth year in a row, there is a lot of good high school pitching in this class. A good year tends to have eight to 10 high school pitchers who I would feel comfortable giving at least $1.5 to $2 million to in the draft; this year’s class might have as many as 12 or 15 of those guys

Great year to pick in the 20's and have an extra second rounder

[CubinNY]

Did anybody else see the horrible leg break of that kid from BYU as he was rounding the bases after his HR? 

[Outshined_One]

Any draftniks have early favorites or good fits for the Cubs' profile for where they're drafting? Carson Wiggins stands out for obvious reasons, and Aiden Teel seems like the sort of college hitter they tend to like.

[mul21]

On 2/15/2026 at 2:59 PM, CubinNY said:

Did anybody else see the horrible leg break of that kid from BYU as he was rounding the bases after his HR? 

Yeah, that was absolutely brutal to watch.  Woof.  That thing folded like a cheap lawn chair.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

On 2/15/2026 at 1:59 PM, Outshined_One said:

Any draftniks have early favorites or good fits for the Cubs' profile for where they're drafting? Carson Wiggins stands out for obvious reasons, and Aiden Teel seems like the sort of college hitter they tend to like.

Tyler Bell, Chris Hacopian, Ace Reese for college bats. Admittedly some (or all) of them might be long gone before the Cubs pick.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Will Gasparino - who was a top 100 prospect coming out of high school - has 3 home runs in his last 2 games.

(Roch Cholowsky also has 2 more HRs today.)