Padres' 2026 MLB Draft Bonus Pool Announced, Ranks 21st

[Steve Drumwright]

As the San Diego Padres try to replenish their farm system, the Friars will have the 21st-most money in their draft bonus pool for 2026.

MLB informed clubs of the slot values and bonus pools for this year's draft, which is July 11-12. For the Padres, whose prospect list has gone down in overall quality due to a variety of trades in recent years, that means having a bonus pool of $9,479,000. The bonus pool for each team covers the first 10 rounds. In 2025, the Friars' bonus pool was $6,569,100.

The Padres have the No. 21 pick in the first round after having No. 25 each of the last two years, when they selected left-handed starters Kash Mayfield in 2024 and Kruz Schoolcraft in 2025. The slot value for this year's 21st pick is $4,224,700.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have the largest bonus pool at $19,130,700, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have the smallest at $3,951,900. The Dodgers were one of four teams that had their top pick moved back 10 spots as a penalty for surpassing the second threshold in the competitive balance tax.

The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 pick, with a slot value of $11,350,600, and the No. 3 bonus pool of $17,592,100. Each slot value went up 2.5% based on increased MLB revenue.

2026 MLB Draft bonus pools

• Pittsburgh Pirates: $19,130,700
• Tampa Bay Rays: $19,009,300
• Chicago White Sox: $17,592,100
• Minnesota Twins: $16,929,600
• St. Louis Cardinals: $16,612,300
• Kansas City Royals: $15,954,000
• Atlanta: $15,870,800
• Colorado Rockies: $15,557,600
• San Francisco Giants: $14,080,400
• Athletics: $13,840,300
• Houston Astros: $13,712,700
• Arizona Diamondbacks: $13,603,100
• Baltimore Orioles: $13,114,000
• Cleveland Guardians: $12,573,900
• Washington Nationals: $12,278,300
• Miami Marlins: $11,960,100
• Los Angeles Angels: $11,755,400
• Cincinnati Reds: $10,758,500
• Texas Rangers: $10,219,200
• Chicago Cubs: $9,644,100
• San Diego Padres: $9,479,000
• Detroit Tigers: $9,165,100
• Boston Red Sox: $8,219,200
• Seattle Mariners: $8,218,200
• Milwaukee Brewers: $8,042,900
• Philadelphia Phillies: $7,773,000
• New York Yankees: $7,342,800
• New York Mets: $6,730,900
• Toronto Blue Jays: $5,543,100
• Los Angeles Dodgers: $3,951,900

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