The slot values for the upcoming 2026 MLB draft are now set, and there is another chance at history this summer.<\/p>\n
The league has finalized the overall draft bonus pool at $358.7 million this year, up 2.5% from a year ago. That bump, tied to overall league revenue, is smaller than the 4.8% lift last year and the 8.7% one in 2024. Still, there are several milestones within the new slot figures.<\/p>\n
The White Sox, holding the No. 1 pick after winning the draft lottery in December<\/a>, will have a record $11.35 million slot value for that pick, up from a $11.08 million slot value to start the 2025 draft.<\/p>\n The Pirates have the most overall money to work with, and the team\u2019s total draft bonus pool of $19.1 million is an MLB record. In addition to having the No. 5 pick, Pittsburgh will also select at No. 34 by gaining a competitive-balance choice, and at No. 51 as compensation for failing to sign 2025 second-round choice Angel Cervantes. The Pirates\u2019 total pool beats the prior league record of $18.3 million, set by the Guardians in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n The two-time defending champion Dodgers<\/a>, not surprisingly, have the league\u2019s smallest bonus pool at $3.95 million. The club\u2019s first pick won\u2019t happen until No. 40, as it was dropped 10 slots for exceeding the second level of the league\u2019s competitive-balance tax. The Dodgers have also surrendered selections in the draft\u2019s second, third, fifth, and sixth rounds after signing free agents Edwin D\u00edaz and Kyle Tucker<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the slot values provide guidance for the signing bonuses, and there are penalties for extreme overspending beyond a team\u2019s overall bonus pool, the deals are not entirely locked in like NFL and NBA rookie-level contracts.<\/p>\n As a result, MLB clubs routinely go above and below the slot values. Last year\u2019s No. 1 draft choice, shortstop Eli Willits by the Nationals<\/a>, ultimately signed for an $8.2 million bonus<\/a>\u2014in turn saving Washington nearly $3 million with that below-slot deal and allowing them to reallocate some of that money to other deals.\u00a0<\/p>\n The overall MLB signing bonus record remains $9.25 million, held by 2024 selections Chase Burns (Reds) and Charlie Condon (Rockies). Ethan Holliday, picked at No. 4 last year by Colorado, had 2025\u2019s largest bonus deal at $9 million<\/a>, a league record for a high school player.<\/p>\n