AL Central draft spending

[Ozzie Ball]

Chicago White Sox

First round picks:

1 (#13)

First round bonus:

$1,656,000

Total spent on first 10 rounds plus significant later round bonuses ($100k+):

$3,455,200

Over-slot signings:

#158 Andy Wilkins, $195,000 bonus vs. $158,400 slot

#308 Ross Wilson, $115,000 bonus vs. $80,000 slot

 

As expected the White Sox stuck to MLB's slotting recommendations almost to the letter. Their stringent spending cost them two of the higher upside prospects in the class (4th rounder Matthew Grimes and 8th rounder Josef Terry), and leaves this draft class looking pretty weak in terms of impact talent. It's a good job that Chris Sale's agent was willing to be creative, otherwise he may not have been signed either.

 

Cleveland Indians

First round picks:

1 (#5)

First round bonus:

$2,650,000

Total spent on first 10 rounds plus significant later round bonuses ($100k+):

$8,549,000

Over-slot signings:

#5 Drew Pomeranz, $2,650,000 bonus vs. $2,520,000 slot

#55 LeVon Washington, $1,200,000 bonus vs. $653,400 slot

#87 Tony Wolters, $1,350,000 bonus vs. $405,000 slot

#120 Kyle Blair, $580,000 bonus vs. $245,700 slot

#150 Cole Cook, $299,000 bonus vs. $169,200 slot

#210 Robbie Aviles, $150,000 bonus vs. $125,000 slot

#240 Alex Laviskey, $1,000,000 bonus vs. $115,000 slot

#300 Tyler Holt, $500,000 bonus vs. $85,000 slot

#390 Michael Goodnight, $315,000 bonus vs.

#690 Tony Dischler, $255,000 bonus vs.

 

The Cleveland Indians, as you can see, were the big spenders this year. They went over-slot early and often, handing out four 7-figure bonuses, and paying their 10th rounder like a mid-2nd rounder. My favorite pick of the bunch though may be Robbie Aviles. The 7th round pick was considered a 1st to 2nd round talent before suffering a partial ligament tear in his elbow. If Aviles fully recovers from his injury, that could end up being the best $150,000 that the Indians spent this year.

Continued...

Edited August 17, 2010 by Ozzie Ball