Jun 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) balances a ball on his forehead in the dugout against the New York Mets in the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Negotiations. Always a high-wire balancing act. And some get started really early in the process.
It’s been a bit of time since our last draft signings update, but there’s been just one name added to the list since then: #28 pick overall (our second first rounder) Michael Soroka signed with Atlanta last week, exactly on his recommended slot bonus value of $1,974,700.
At this point, there are 2 remaining Atlanta draftees in the first 10 rounds that remain unsigned: our first overall pick (14 overall) Kolby Allard and 9th rounder Taylor Lewis. There has been no public word from the Braves… or anyone else… as to the status of negotiations for either player.
Here’s the updated chart:
In addition to these, the following draft picks (by round number) have signed with the Braves (according to information from BaseballAmerica.com): picks in Round 11 through 17, 19 through 22, 24-27, and 29.
So that’s a total of sixteen additional players beyond Round 10 have been welcomed to Braves Country.
Financial Status
The Braves are still under their spending cap, and in fact are under the sum of slot bonuses overall by $144,700.
As previously pointed out, the rules require that teams remain within 5% of their total pool of slot bonuses to prevent the heavy penalty of losing a future draft pick. Thus while Atlanta has probably started with an offer of $2,842,400 to Allard, they could go as high as 5% above their allotment of $10,684,100… which could increase Allard’s bonus by as much as $534,205.
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So far, here’s how the 1st round picks have progressed:
- 1st overall pick Dansby Swanson: not yet signed
- Pitcks 2 through 5: all signed under slot
- 6th pick: signed at recommended slot value
- 7-8, 12-14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 35: all unsigned
- Others under slot: 9, 19, 26, 30, 31, 36
- Others on slot: 10, 11, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34
- Above slot: 15, 17, 21, 27
So that’s 12 of the 36 that have not yet inked deals, 11 under slot, 4 above, and the rest at the recommended value.
To that extent, it’s not unusual for Allard to be unsigned at this stage, though a bit disappointing since short-season leagues are already underway, and this delay is merely reducing the available time to get him into pro ball this Summer. Each year, several draftees likewise hold up the process right up until the July 17 deadline, despite the loss of playing time.
Any of these first rounders that fail to sign by that date may re-enter the draft in 2016 and their drafting team will get a compensation re-pick next year (as the Astros did this year).