The Mets’ bonus pool figure for the 2024 draft is $9,572,200 and the slot value for their first round pick (19th overall) is $4,219,200, according to figures Major League Baseball sent to teams today, per BaseballAmerica.com.
Each pick in the top 10 rounds of the July 14-16 draft is assigned a slot value, and the amounts added up reflect each team’s bonus pool. Teams can use that money however they see fit, meaning each pick does not have to sign for their slot value dollar amount.
Jett Williams, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies
For example, the Mets can sign the 19th pick of the first round at an amount higher than $4.2 million, but they have $9.5 million total to spend on all of their draft picks in the first 10 rounds. In the 2024 draft, the Mets, for example, saved money by drafting players who’d accept an under slot value signing bonuses at multiple slots (Nick Lorusso, Christian Pregent, Noah Hall). With the money they knew they’d save from those players, they drafted Boston Baro in the eighth round, who ultimately signed a $700,000 bonus—over $500,000 over his eighth-round bonus value.
Teams can outspend their total bonus pools, but then they suffer tax penalties and loss of picks if they exceed the bonus pool by 5%. Selections in rounds 11-20 do not get slot values, but any signing in those rounds greater than $150,000 counts toward the bonus pool.
The Mets don’t have any supplemental or compensatory picks this draft, either, meaning their bonus pool is strictly the value of their first 10 picks.
MLB also told clubs today bonus pool information for the international signing period that begins on Jan. 15, 2025, and runs through Dec. 15, 2025. There are five pools, as Baseball America points out.
International bonus pool money can be traded and is based on a team’s revenue, market size, competitive balance tax standing and if they signed free agents who declined the qualifying offer.
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