2019 MLB Draft signing update: 3 of Dodgers’ Top 11 picks remain unsigned

Logan Boyer

The Dodgers are doing some work when it comes to getting their draft picks signed. While three players picked in the first five rounds remain unsigned, they’ve set themselves up pretty well to get them inked.

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Round Player Slot Bonus Savings
1 Kody Hoese $2,740,300 $2,740,300 $0
1c Michael Busch $2,312,000 unsigned ?
2c Jimmy Lewis $793,000 unsigned ?
3 Ryan Pepiot $571,400 $547,500 $23,900
4 Brandon Lewis $430,800 $372,500 $58,300
5 Jack Little $321,100 unsigned ?
6 Aaron Ochsenbein $249,000 $72,500 $176,500
7 Nick Robertson $195,700 $177,500 $18,200
8 Ryan Ward $163,400 $160,900 $2,500
9 Alec Gamboa $150,100 $17,500 $132,600
10 Zac Ching $142,300 $2,500 $139,800
11 Logan Boyer $125,000* $297,500 ($172,500)
Total   $8,069,100 $4,388,700 $376,800

If Busch and Little sign for about slot, the leftover savings could be used to get Lewis signed. As their lone prep player drafted in the top 20 rounds, it’d be difficult to see the Dodgers let him get away. But it also means they probably won’t go much over the $125,000 mark in the remaining round 11-40 guys because they can’t afford it without going too far over. Boyer might end up being their big post-10th round signee.

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Let’s review the rules behind the draft signing bonus pools.

The picks within the first 10 rounds get a slot amount allotted to them, and they must be signed in order for their slot amount to go towards the overall bonus pool. If a draftee in the first 10 rounds does not sign, teams lose that signing bonus from their overall pool (like what happened with J.T. Ginn last year). Additionally, if any picks from rounds 11-40 or undrafted free agents are signed for more than $125,000, the overage will count against the bonus pool. And here’s how the overage penalties shake out.

Overage (percentage) Penalty (taxed amount)
0-4.99 75 percent tax on overage
5-9.99 75 percent tax on overage
Loss of 2020 1st-round pick
10-14.99 100 percent tax on overage
Loss of 2020 1st- and 2nd-round picks
15-plus 100 percent tax
Loss of 1st-round picks in 2020 and 2021

The Dodgers can go up to $403,454 (5 percent, less $1) over their allotted slot amount of $8,069,100 without losing a draft pick. No team has ever exceeded this bonus pool since this system was implemented in 2012, and it isn’t going to happen now.

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The signing deadline is July 12 at 2 p.m. Here’s hoping for no drama this year.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.