Philly Leader

The 2025 Draft will see the Washington Nationals making the first pick, which holds a significant assigned value of $11,075,900. Similarly, the Seattle Mariners will participate with the largest overall bonus pool after advancing from the 15th to the 3rd position in the Draft Lottery. The announcement of slot values and bonus pools was released by MLB on Wednesday, reflecting a 4.8 percent increase in pick values from the previous year, consistent with the growth in MLB revenues.

Despite holding the fourth-best odds, Washington succeeded in the Draft Lottery, granting them the first selection with a valued slot. Seattle, with its move up the lottery by 12 positions, claimed the third pick, valued at $9,504,400, alongside a competitive balance selection that brought in a notable addition to their bonus pool. Their total in the first 10 rounds equals $17,074,400, ranking as the fourth-largest since 2012.

Twenty-one teams will hold seven-figure bonus pools, with a select few, including the Mariners, surpassing $15 million. The Cardinals gained a boost by climbing from 13th to 5th in the lottery, increasing their pool by $2,610,500.

Contrastively, the New York Yankees possess the smallest pool at $5,383,600, impacted by penalties for exceeding competitive balance tax thresholds and the acquisition of free agent Max Fried.

The combined total for all 30 teams' bonus pools is $350,357,700, an increase from 2024. Teams last year had a combined expenditure that exceeded the previous record set in 2023. Specific players, such as Chase Burns and Charlie Condon, each signed notable contracts, surpassing previous player signing figures.

Each selection within the initial 10 rounds is assigned a value, with the cumulative total determining a club's potential spending without penalty. In cases where draftees do not sign, the associated choice's value is deducted from the team’s pool.

Penalty systems are in place for teams that overspend. A 75 percent tax applies for 0-5 percent overage, with harsher penalties for exceeding by larger margins, including future pick loss and additional taxes.

Historically, teams have outspent their allotted pools 240 times. However, exceeding by more than 5 percent has not occurred, with four teams, including the Cardinals and the Dodgers, surpassing their pools every year. The Rockies and Twins remain consistent in not exceeding their allocations.

The distribution of bonus pools for each team is detailed, with the Mariners owning the highest pool and the Yankees at the opposite end.

"Bonus pools by team," specified values, rounds, and selections are listed to provide comprehensive data for MLB's 2025 Draft process.