Pittsburgh Pirates: FanGraphs Releases First Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Pirates are appearing to be be taking a high school shortstop with the first overall pick and looking to save bonus pool.

As the MLB Draft inches closer, more is coming out about the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It appears that the club is wanting to save money with their first pick and to spread it around.  When looking at the Pirates previous drafts, they always spend their bonus amount.  Here’s the percent of their bonus pool spent each season:

• 2016: 105% (but failed to sign comp pick Nick Lodolo, reducing pool from $7 million to $5.4 million
• 2017: 103%
• 2018: 105% (but failed to sign comp pick Gunnar Hoglund, reducing pool from $10.4 million to $8.4 million)
• 2019: 105%
• 2020: 99%

The Pittsburgh Pirates are always willing to go to, or above, the signing bonus pool in the draft.  The key number is the 105%, as the five percent over penalty is just a tax on the overage.  So even if Ben Cherington and the Front Office decide to save money with the first pick, expect them to reinvest it later.

Today, FanGraphs released their first mock draft.  They have the Pirates selecting high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer with Kevin Goldstein writing that

"“This might come down to a day of the draft game of chicken to see who among Mayer, Lawlar and Davis will take the biggest haircut with the top pick and allow the Pirates to redistribute the largest bonus pool in the draft elsewhere.”"

We’ve mentioned this before, with Mayer being less costly with the first pick.  However, what FanGraphs notes is that it could save up to $2 million in their draft pool, essentially another second round pick.  This would allow the Pirates to get another elite high school player at 37 or 64, or potentially Gunnar Hoglund or Jaden Hill at 37.

By going underslot, the Pirates can add more talent to the farm.  This is something that Cherington has preached.  The Pirates have always spent their draft pool, so it is not them being “cheap” rather them trying to accumulate talent.  Look for high school shortstop Marcelo Mayer to be the first pick with the chance to add more high end talent in the later rounds.