Major League Baseball unveiled the slot values and bonus pool amounts for teams this week. According to MLB.com, slot values have risen by 4.8%, a reflection of the league’s increasing revenue. Thanks to moving up from the 13th pick to the 5th overall, the Cardinals gained an additional $2,610,500 in their bonus pool.
Before diving deeper, here’s a quick overview of how the bonus pool system works. In the MLB Draft, each pick in the first 10 rounds is assigned a recommended “slot value” by the league. The sum of these values makes up a team’s bonus pool — the maximum amount they can spend on signing bonuses without facing penalties. For the 2025 draft, the Cardinals’ No. 5 overall selection comes with a slot value of $7,822,200. Adding up the slot values for their first 10 rounds gives them a total bonus pool of $11,314,600.
Teams can allocate this money however they want among their draftees, though the total cannot surpass their bonus pool without incurring fines or, in extreme cases, losing draft picks. Some teams often sign early picks for under-slot deals to free up money for later selections. Players picked after the 10th round can sign for up to $150,000 without affecting the bonus pool, but any amount over that is deducted from it.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s bonus pool:
- Mariners: $17,074,400
- Rays: $16,699,400
- Angels: $16,656,400
- Nationals: $16,597,800
- Orioles: $16,513,100
- Rockies: $15,723,400
- Marlins: $15,187,400
- Cardinals: $14,238,300
- Pirates: $14,088,400
- Brewers: $13,138,100
- Royals: $12,794,700
- Twins: $12,653,000
- Red Sox: $12,409,300
- White Sox: $12,169,100
- Reds: $11,836,800
- Rangers: $10,991,300
- Tigers: $10,990,800
- Diamondbacks: $10,917,800
- Athletics: $10,563,500
- Blue Jays: $10,314,600
- Guardians: $10,198,100
- Cubs: $9,636,800
- Braves: $9,081,100
- Dodgers: $9,031,300
- Giants: $8,403,300
- Phillies: $7,849,400
- Astros: $7,181,500
- Padres: $6,569,100
- Mets: $5,465,900
- Yankees: $5,383,600
The Cardinals’ rise to a higher pick gives them not just an earlier selection but a bigger budget for signing talent — a major advantage as they look to bounce back after a tough season. This draft could play a key role in rebuilding their roster and setting up long-term success. Normally, I don’t follow the draft too closely, but this year I’ll definitely be paying more attention. The Cardinals have a real opportunity to make a big impact, and I’m excited to see how they approach it!
Enjoy your Sunday!
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