MLB Announces 2025 Draft, 2026 International Signing Period Bonus Pools

This week, MLB released bonus pool allocations and pick values for the 2025 MLB Draft. Additionally, MLB released international signing bonus pools for the 2026 signing period.

Despite making the playoffs in 2024, the Brewers are well positioned in the 2025 MLB Draft. They have the 10th largest bonus pool overall, at $13,138,100. This is a function of several factors. They receive a compensation pick at 32nd overall for Willy Adames. They received an additional compensation pick at 68th overall for failing to sign Chris Levonas in 2024. The Brewers would have also had an additional pick in Comp Round A, but traded that pick (33rd overall) to the Red Sox as part of the Quinn Priester deal.

The Brewers top 100 picks and slot values are as follows:
Slot value for pick 20: $4,268,200
Slot value for pick 32: $2,970,900
Slot value for pick 59: $1,560,200
Slot value for pick 68: $1,254,400
Slot value for pick 94: $826,400

This combination of financial and pick flexibility puts the Brewers in a strong position ahead of a draft class shaping up to be uncertain in terms of top tier talent, but with plenty of depth through around 75 picks, with prep bats a demographic of strength.

Reminders on Draft Financials
Organizations are allowed to spend up to 5% more than their total pool without incurring a penalty, a choice many teams take advantage of. The Twins and the Rockies are the only MLB teams who have never spent any overage on their bonus pool. Any amount up to 5% over the pool is met with a 75% tax on the overage. If a team spends between 5-10% more than their pool, the penalty is 75% tax on the overage and loss of a future first rounder. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 10% up to 15% pays 100% tax on the overage and will lose a first and second round future pick. Any team who exceeds their bonus pool by more than 15% loses two future first round picks in addition to paying 100% tax on the overage.

Rounds 11-20 work differently to the first half of the draft. These picks do not come with an assigned slot value. Teams can spend up to $150,000 per pick without that spending coming out of their bonus pool. If they spend over that amount, any overage will be deducted from their bonus pool. For example, an 11th round pick signing for $250,000 will result in $100,000 being subtracted from that teams’ bonus pool. 

MLB Announces 2026 International Bonus Pools
MLB announced bonus pools for the 2026 international signing period today. The 2026 signing window opens on January 15th, 2026 and runs through December 15th, 2026. The Brewers are in a group of eight teams (which also includes the Reds) who have the joint second largest bonus pools. The Brewers can spend $7,357,100 in the 2026 international signing window.