2020 MLB Draft: Dodgers ink 3rd-rounder Jake Vogel to over-slot deal

Jake Vogel

And then there was one … remaining unsigned 2020 Dodgers draftee.

The Dodgers must really like what they have in Jake Vogel. The 3rd-rounder, reportedly, agreed to a deal that was nearly $1.05 million over slot. It’s the largest signing bonus Billy Gasparino and Andrew Friedman have given a draft prospect after the first round, and the most for a post-2nd-rounder since Dustin May‘s $1 million bonus back in 2016.

Here’s the bonus pool update.

RoundPlayerSlotBonusSavings
1Bobby Miller$2,424,600$2,200,000$224,600
2Landon Knack$1,157,400$715,000$442,400
2cbClayton Beeter$1,003,300unsignedN/A
3Jake Vogel$581,600$1,622,500($1,040,900)
4Carson Taylor$434,300$400,000$34,300
5Gavin Stone$327,200$100,000$227,200
Total$5,928,400$5,037,500($112,400)

Vogel’s bonus means the Dodgers are probably going to have to go right up to the 5 percent mark to get Beeter to sign.

I’m not concerned about the Dodgers getting Beeter signed. I kinda thought Beeter’s potential bonus and Vogel’s bonus would be flip-flopped, but the math all evens out in the end.

Bonus Pool

Here are the penalties, should the Dodgers go more than 5 percent over their signing bonus pool.

Overage (percentage)Penalty (taxed amount)
0-4.9975 percent tax on overage
5-9.9975 percent tax on overage
Loss of 2021 1st-round pick
10-14.99100 percent tax on overage
Loss of 2021 1st- & 2nd-round picks
15-plus100 percent tax
Loss of 1st-round picks in 2021 & 2022

The Dodgers can go up to $296,419 (5 percent, less $1) over their allotted slot amount of $5,928,400 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.

Teams have until Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. Pacific time to sign their draftees.

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.