Here is the list of every American League team’s picks over the five rounds (plus the free agent compensation sandwich picks and the two Competitive Balance Rounds) of the 2020 draft. Slot price information and — if available — the amount of the player’s bonus are listed, as well as each club’s total draft bonus spending pool. If a player doesn’t sign with the team, the slot price attached to the player’s draft spot is removed from the team’s pool.
Teams are allowed to spend beyond their draft pool limit, though at an increasingly steep penalty. Exceeding the limit by 10 percent or less of the pool value will cost a team a 75 percent tax on the overage, as well as the forfeiture of a future first-round pick if they exceed the pool by between 5-10 percent. A 100 percent tax on the overage is levied if a team exceeds its pool by more than 10 percent of the total pool value, with heavier pick penalties — a future first- and second-round pick if a team’s extra spending falls between 10-15 percent of the pool limit, and two future first-round picks if the pool is exceeded by more than 15 percent. Needless to say, it would be shocking if any team topped the five percent threshold, though going over the pool limit by 0-5 percent isn’t uncommon.
For further reference, here is the rundown of draft signings for National League teams. These lists will be frequently updated as more players sign over the coming weeks, so keep the posts bookmarked for future updates!
Angels ($6,397,100 draft pool)
- Reid Detmers, 1st round, 10th overall. Slot value: $4,739,900
- David Calabrese, 3-82. Slot value: $744.2K (Signed for 744K)
- Werner Blakely, 4-111. Slot value: $522.6K (Signed for $900K)
- Adam Seminaris, 5-141. Slot value: $390.4K (Signed for $140K)
Athletics ($5,241,500 draft pool)
- Tyler Soderstrom, 1st round, 26th overall. Slot value: $2,653,400 (Expected to sign for roughly $3.3MM)
- Jeff Criswell, 2-58. Slot value: $1,214,300
- Michael Guldberg, 3-98. Slot value: $593.1K
- Dane Acker, 4-127. Slot value: $447.4K
- Stevie Emanuels, 5-157. Slot value: $333.3K
Astros ($2,202,600 draft pool)
- Alex Santos II, free agent compensation round, 72nd overall. Slot value: $870.7K (Signed for $1.25MM)
- Ty Brown, 3rd round, 101st overall. Slot value: $577K (Signed for $557K)
- Zach Daniels, 4-131. Slot value: $430.8K (Signed for $400K)
- Shay Whitcomb, 5-160. Slot value: $324.1K (Signed for $56K)
- Total spent: $2.263MM. Astros will pay $45.3K in overage tax for exceeding draft pool limit
Blue Jays ($9,716,500 draft pool)
- Austin Martin, 1st, 5th overall. Slot value: $6,180,700
- CJ Van Eyk, 2-42. Slot value: $1,771,100 (Signed for $1.8MM)
- Trent Palmer, 3-77. Slot value: $805.6K (Signed for $850K)
- Nick Frasso, 4-106. Slot value: $549K
- Zach Britton, 5-136. Slot value: $410.1K (Signed for $97.5K)
Indians ($7,662,800 draft pool)
- Carson Tucker, 1st round, 23rd overall. Slot value: $2,926,800 (Signed for $2MM)
- Tanner Burns, Competitive Balance Round A, 36th overall. Slot value: $2,045,400
- Logan Allen, 2-56. Slot value: $1,276,400 (Signed for $1.125MM)
- Petey Halpin, 3-95. Slot value: $610.8K
- Milan Tolentino, 4-124. Slot value: $460K
- Mason Hickman, 5-154. Slot value: $343.4K (Signed for $343.4K)
Mariners ($10,265,500 draft pool)
- Emerson Hancock, 1st round, 6th overall. Slot value: $5,742,900
- Zach DeLoach, 2-43. Slot value: $1,729,800
- Connor Phillips, Competitive Balance Round B, 64th overall. Slot value: $1,050,300
- Kaden Polcovich, 3-78. Slot value: $793K
- Tyler Keenan, 4-107. Slot value: $543.5K (Signed for $500K)
- Taylor Dollard, 5-137. Slot value: $406K
Orioles ($13,894,300 draft pool)
- Heston Kjerstad, 1st round, 2nd overall. Slot value: $7,789,900
- Jordan Westburg, Competitive Balance Round A, 30th overall. Slot value: $2,365,500 (Signed for $2.365, 500)
- Hudson Haskin, 2-39. Slot value: $1,906,800 (Signed for $1,906,800)
- Anthony Servideo, 3-74. Slot value: $844.2K
- Coby Mayo, 4-103. Slot value: $565.6K (Signed for $1.75MM)
- Carter Baumier, 5-133. Slot value: $422.3K. (Signed for $1.5MM)
Rangers ($7,083,900 draft pool)
- Justin Foscue, 1st round, 14th overall. Slot value: $4,036,800 (Signed for $3.25MM)
- Evan Carter, 2-50. Slot value: $1,469,900 (Signed for $1.25MM)
- Tekoah Roby, 3-86. Slot value: $699.7K (Signed for $775K)
- Dylan MacLean, 4-115. Slot value: $502.3K (Signed for $1.2MM)
- Thomas Saggese, 5-145. Slot value: $375.2K (Signed for $800K)
- Total spent: $7,275,000. Rangers will pay $143,325 in overage tax for exceeding draft pool limit.
Rays ($7,474,600 draft pool)
- Nick Bitsko, 1st round, 24th overall. Slot value: $2,831,300
- Alika Williams, Competitive Balance Round A, 37th overall. Slot value: $1,999,300 (Signed for $1.85MM)
- Ian Seymour, 2-57. Slot value: $1,243,600
- Hunter Barnhart, 3-96. Slot value: $604.8K (Signed for $585K)
- Tanner Murray, 4-125. Slot value: $455.6K (Signed for $455.6K)
- Jeff Hakanson, 5-155. Slot value: $340K (Signed for $340K)
Red Sox ($5,129,900 draft pool)
- Nick Yorke, 1st round, 17th overall. Slot value: $3,609,700 (Expected to sign)
- Blaze Jordan, 3-89. Slot value: $667.9K (Signed for $1.75MM)
- Jeremy Wu-Yelland, 4-118. Slot value: $487.9K
- Shane Drohan, 5-148. Slot value: $364.4K
Royals ($12,521,300 draft pool)
- Asa Lacy, 1st round, 4th overall. Slot value: $6,664,000
- Nick Loftin, Competitive Balance Round A, 32rd overall. Slot value: $2,257,300
- Ben Hernandez, 2-41. Slot value: $1,813,500
- Tyler Gentry, 3-76. Slot value: $818.2K
- Christian Chamberlain, 4-105. Slot value: $554.3K
- Will Klein, 5-135. Slot value: $414K
Tigers ($13,325,700 draft pool)
- Spencer Torkelson, 1st round, 1st overall. Slot value: $8,415,300
- Dillon Dingler, 2-38. Slot value: $1,952,300 (Signed for $1.952,300)
- Danny Cabrera, Competitive Balance Round B, 62nd overall. Slot value: $1,102,700
- Trei Cruz, 3-73. Slot value: $857.4K (Signed for $900K)
- Gage Workman, 4-102. Slot value: $571.4K (Signed for $1MM)
- Colt Keith, 5-132. Slot value: $426.6K (Signed for $500K)
Twins ($4,528,600 draft pool)
- Aaron Sabato, 1st round, 27th overall. Slot value: $2,570,100
- Alerick Soularie, 2-59. Slot value: $1,185,500 (Signed for $900K)
- Marco Raya, 4-128. Slot value: $442.9K (Signed for $410K)
- Kala’i Rosario, 5-158. Slot value: $330.1K
White Sox ($7,764,800 draft pool)
- Garrett Crochet, 1st round, 11th overall. Slot value: $4,547,500 (Signed for $4,547,500)
- Jared Kelley, 2-47. Slot value: $1,580,200 (Signed for $3MM)
- Adisyn Coffey, 3-83. Slot value: $733.1K (Signed for $50K)
- Kade Mechals, 4-112. Slot value: $517.4K (Signed for $10K)
- Bailey Horn, 5-142. Slot value: $386.6K (Signed for $150K)
- Total spent: $7,757,500
Yankees ($3.52MM draft pool)
- Austin Wells, 1st round, 28th overall. Slot value: $2,493,900
- Trevor Hauver, 3-99. Slot value: $587.4K
- Beck Way, 4-129. Slot value: $438.7K
Surprised those White Sox 3rd and 4th rounders signed for next to nothing. The 4th rounder could have made more undrafted.
Mechals had TJ in the spring. Likely wouldn’t be signed at all.
Saving money to get that second rounder sign.
That is the White Sox draft strategy in recent years. They draft guys in those rounds that probably have almost no chance of making it with the payoff being they could get two studs in the first two rounds.
The only thing that is going to keep Kelley from going to college is a boatload of money and significantly more than his slot value of $1.6M. By basically punting those other picks they can basically double their offer to Kelley and get him in the organization.
This is not a new strategy to the Sox.
Pitching is their biggest weakness. Kelley won’t be a help to the big league club until two or three years. The power lefty, if there’s a season can help now in the bullpen before they develop him as a starter.
If Kelley is up in 2-3 years he is a consensus top 10 prospect. HS arms very rarely move that fast.
I understand the strategy, but you would think they would get 10-15% at least of slot value. If I were those players, I would have never signed for next to nothing.
What would you have done then? I doubt they were getting any better offers. These are kids coming from college not high school
With minor leagues getting smaller might as what ever money they offer especially you’re not a big draft prospect.
I would have signed for $5,000.
Kelley’s not going to college, he was actually viewed as the easiest sign among the top HS arms. His fall I think is largely due to the industry worried about his body is maxed out and has shown no ability to spin the ball. That being said I still like him a lot and it was a steal where white sox drafted him. I imagine he signs for above slot but less than 3 million
Don’t know where you are getting that info from.
Kelley is one of the most difficult and has a huge asking price.
If the White Sox don’t sign him he really isn’t losing much. Go to school for three years and come out a Top 5 draft pick
He’s losing a lot if he doesn’t sign. He’d hit FA 3 years prior, get better level training than college, and there is a real chance he wouldn’t get the money he’s getting now. Suggesting he’d just walk in and be a top 5 pick in three years isn’t really logical.
He dropped because of the threat he wouldn’t sign.
His agent put out that he may honor his commitment.
He has the leverage. One of the harder players to sign because he could walk.
Happens a lot.
He is a good size kid that throws in the high 90’s. He is going to get drafted again.
Playing college baseball at the University of Texas is probably better than Rookie ball.
Probably around low A.
3 years from now he will probably he around Single A and Double A.
Doesn’t lose much.
@sdsuphilip
He could sign for $3MM. Right now, the savings from the $60K combined to Coffey and Mechals are $1,190,500. Add that to his slot value, that’s $2,770,700. They could offer Horn $100K and still offer Kelley $3MM without touching Crochet’s slot value.
They theoretically have another $388K to play with staying under the 5% threshold paying over the pool limit. I doubt it will get to that though.
They likely drafted specifically for that purpose. They’re gonna need to go over slot to sign Kelley.
Plus maybe one or both pan out as a reliever in the upper levels. Little org depth up and down kind of guy.
how are the Angel’s going to sign Detmers and Seminaris?? 2 lefties with very high floors I would love to have in the system
Actually need to update this page. Angels already agreed to sign Seminaries to I believe $140k Way below slot. That’s what made him attractive to get in the 5th round.
Fabian Ardaya @FabianArdaya
The Angels and fifth-round LHP Adam Seminaris agreed to a bonus of $140,000, sources tell The Athletic. Slot value: $390,400.
I thought he signed too, thanks! I watched him at LB St. hes gonna awesome, just knows how to pitch and all pitches are above average and can locate . high floor imo
Why have so few 1st rounders not yet signed? I’ve never paid this close attention to the draft before so I’m unfamiliar with the “norms.” How much back and forth negotiating actually takes place with those first round guys, especially the early first rounders? Thanks!
It’s not really negotiations at this point as much as bluffs and teams like to get the underslot guys accounted for first so they know exactly how much they have for the overslot guys. That being said all of them will sign and it is merely a formality
Thanks sdsu!
Logan Allen linked is the big league one – go figure there are probably going to be two Logan Allens in one organization.
And both LHP’s.
I liked the Tigers draft, but they have paid over slot for every signing so far. I’m worried they may lose Cabrera, because Boras and Tork aren’t going to accept a below slot deal. Do the teams have any wiggle room on the slot values?
At what amount over their total do penalties apply?
Are you sure those numbers are right with Kade Mechals? 10K is half of what undrafted free agents are signing for. MLB is going to have to reform this system because more and more teams are going to front load their pool money on luring the unsignables to sign with far overslot deals and just punting or spend very little on their later round picks. There ought to be a cap on how much over slot you can offer on early round picks.
The limit is 20,000 per undrafted free agents. I havent seen any definitive number given on most of the free agent signings of how much they are actually being paid. He’s signing because he wants the opportunity. With how recent he went under tommy john surgery he’s lucky to he picked up as a senior sign
CWS didn’t expect Kelley to be available in round 2. Basically outwitted the few teams above them by taking guys they earmarked and undrafted free agents in round 3-5. You only had 5 picks and historically your top 2 picks have the best chance of success, the CWS got two top 20 picks.