Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers ended up signing 18 of their 19 draft selections this year, as the deadline to sign draftees passed today at 2 p.m.
Some of these signings were announced after the first draft signing update, while two of them were announced today.
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| Round | Player | Slot | Bonus | Savings |
| 2 | Dalton Rushing | $1,951,900 | $1,956,890 | ($4,990) |
| 3 | Alex Freeland | $582,700 | $580,200 | $2,500 |
| 4 | Nick Biddison | $435,200 | $382,500 | $52,700 |
| 5 | Sean McLain | $325,400 | $322,900 | $2,500 |
| 6 | Logan Wagner | $253,400 | $600,000 | ($346,600) |
| 7 | Christopher Campos | $199,900 | $197,500 | $2,400 |
| 8 | Taylor Young | $169,100 | $2,500 | $166,500 |
| 9 | Brandon Neeck | $156,600 | $27,500 | $129,100 |
| 10 | Simon Reid | $149,600 | $2,500 | $147,100 |
| 11 | Kyle Nevin | $125,000* | $397,500 | ($272,500) |
| 13 | Chris Newell | $125,000* | $147,500 | ($22,500) |
| 18 | Cameron Decker | $125,000* | $187,500 | ($62,500) |
| Total | $4,223,800 | $4,804,990 | ($206,290) |
*- Any amount over $125,000 counts against the bonus pool
The Dodgers are right up against that 5% overage number (less than $5,000), and they are so masterful with this practice every year (as are many other teams).
There wasn’t much doubt the Dodgers were going to sign Rushing. It’s a little surprising it took more than slot — even just $5,500 — but they were able to snag some under-slot guys to really help them sign some post-10th-round guys to over-slot deals.
The biggest get after the 10th round is Decker, who has a projectable, athletic frame and probably moves to third base as he progresses through the minors. But he was one of my favorite selections in Rounds 11-20.
They also apparently signed Puerto Rican shortstop Nicolas Perez. He was committed to Florida State, but with the minimal savings against the pool outlined above, they couldn’t have really given him a big post-10th bonus.
Newell got some praise when the Dodgers drafted him and could be a sleeper, even if he’s a little older. Here are the rest of the players the Dodgers signed in Rounds 11-20 — all of whom signed for $125,000.
- Round 12: RHP Jacob Meador
- Round 14: SS Jose Izarra
- Round 16: RHP Jared Karros
- Round 19: OF Chris Alleyne
And here are some more undrafted free agents who signed since the last update.
- LHP Carter Lohman, Louisville
- IF Livan Reinoso, Tennessee Wesleyan
- RHP Christian Ruebeck, Kansas State
- RHP Lucas Wepf, Louisiana-Monroe
Wepf! Awesome.
Reinoso looks fun!
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And, before we close the door on the 2022 draft (save for, maybe, Carter McCulley, who is a draft-and-follow), here’s how the bonus pool rules work.
Bonus Pool
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 Daulton Rushing doesn’t sign, the Dodgers’ bonus pool would decline by $1,950,900). Bonuses for undrafted free agents aren’t capped at $20,000 anymore, which is good! Like a post-10th-round signee, anything over $125,000 will count against the pool.
Here are 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 2023 1st-round pick |
| 10-14.99 | 100 percent tax on overage Loss of 2023 1st- and 2nd-round picks |
| 15-plus | 100 percent tax Loss of 1st-round picks in 2023 and 2024 |
Most teams live in the 0-4.99% range. The Dodgers can go up to $211,069 (5 percent, less $1) over their allotted slot amount of $4,646,700 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.
And we can’t forget about the accounting trick.
Another successful draft season for Billy Gasparino and Co.
Now, let’s see about Juan Soto.
