2020 MLB Draft: Dodgers sign 1st-round pick Bobby Miller and 4th-rounder Carson Taylor

The Dodgers not signing a 1st-round right-handed pitcher from the University of Louisville has some precedent in the Billy Gasparino era, but that won’t be the case this year. The Dodgers have, reportedly, signed Bobby Miller.

If you needed further confirmation, get it from the man himself.

Groovy.

Here’s how the bonus pool stacks up at present.

RoundPlayerSlotBonusSavings
1Bobby Miller$2,424,600$2,200,000$224,600
2Landon Knack$1,157,400unsigned?
2cbClayton Beeter$1,003,300unsigned?
3Jake Vogel$581,600unsigned?
4Carson Taylor$434,300$400,000$34,300
5Gavin Stone$327,200$100,000$227,200
Total$5,928,400$2,700,000$486,100

Miller saved the Dodgers a little against the bonus pool, as was predicted by many when the Dodgers took him at No. 29 overall earlier this month. Taylor’s deal also saves the Dodgers some pool money. Not a lot, but they might need every dollar they can get to get both Beeter and Vogel signed. Knack’s deal is expected to be a significantly under-slot signee, so the biggest savings against the pool could still be to come.

The Dodgers, disappointingly, haven’t signed any new undrafted free agents since inking right-hander Robbie Peto last week.

Bonus Pool

Before you go, here’s a quick refresher on how the bonus pool system works.

Every pick in the draft has a slot amount allotted to them. A player can be signed for more or less than the recommended amount, but a team cannot exceed its bonus pool without incurring penalties. If a draftee does not sign, teams lose that signing bonus from their overall pool (i.e., if Landon Knack didn’t sign, the Dodgers’ bonus pool would decline by $1,157,400). Bonuses for undrafted free agents do not count toward a team’s pool, and the maximum amount a team can sign a UDFA for is $20,000 (which sucks).

Here are how the overage penalties shake out.

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.