2022 Cubs MLB First-Year Player Draft Ticker Tracker
CUBS 2022 MLB FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT PICKS
DAY ONE (7/17)
1st ROUND (7)
Cade Horton, RHP
R/R, 6'1 211, Age 20
U. of Oklahoma
COLLEGE REDSHIRT FRESHMAN
COMMENT: Considered to be the best college pitcher in the draft... was named to the Baseball America Freshman All-American team in 2022... attended Norman HS and then stayed home and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma as a two sport guy (baseball pitcher / third-baseman & football QB) after decomitting from Ole Miss, but eventually gave up football to concentrate on baseball... he didn't play baseball in 2020, he redshirted the 2021 season after undergoing TJS, and finally made his college game debut this past March... 5-2 with a 4.86 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 14 games (11 GS), with 15/64 BB/K, 55 hits (8 HR), and 7 HBP, in 53.2 IP, but went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 6/49 BB/K in 31 innings in post-season tournament play (Big 12 tournament, NCAA regional and super-regional, and College World Series)... set a record by striking out 13 batters in the CWS championship game loss versus Ole Miss and was named to CWS All-Tournament team... best pitch is an upper 80's SL with a high spin-rate, but he also throws a 94-97 MPH FB, an 80 MPH CV, and an upper 80's CH...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $5,708,000
2nd ROUND (47)
Jackson Ferris, LHP
L/L, 6'4 195, Age 18
IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Ole Miss
COMMENT: Considered to be one of the top three HS LHP in the 2022 draft... transferred to IMG from Mt. Airy HS in North Carolina in 2020... features a 93-97 MPH FB, a high-spin mid-70's CV, and a deceptive CH... was better in his junior year at IMG in 2021 when he posted a 0.55 ERA with 13/82 BB/K over the course of 50.2 IP than he was in his senior year (2022) when he had some command issues stemming from a mechanical problem with his crossfire delivery... will enroll at 2022 CWS champion Ole Miss if he does not sign with the Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $1,660,400
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DAY TWO (7/18)
3rd ROUND (86)
Christopher Paciolla, SS
R/R, 6'2 185, Age 18
Temecula Valley HS - Temecula, CA
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: UCLA
COMMENT: Hit 390/533/695 with 4 HR & 21 RBI with 16/14 BB/K in 29 games for Golden Bears in 2022... has above-average power... good fielder with average arm and below average speed... will likely move to 3B in pro ball... will enroll at UCLA if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $735,200
4th ROUND (113)
Nazier Mule, RHP (ex-SS)
R/R, 6'3 210, Age 17
Passaic County Technical HS - Wayne, NJ
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Miami
COMMENT: Last name is pronounced Moo-LAY... athletic two-way player (SS / RHP) with a shortstop arm compared to Shawon Dunston... hit .427 with 8 HR & 37 RBI, 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 14 walks for Bulldogs in 2022... raw power arm off the mound featuring a 92-96 MPH FB (was touching 100 with FB in his junior year) and inconstent slider... 3.23 ERA with 10 hits allowed and 6/29 BB/K in 13 IP for Bulldogs in 2022... played mostly 1B / DH in 2022 while nursing a sore arm... will pitch (only) in pro ball but will be a two-way player at "The U" if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $538,400
5th ROUND (143)
Brandon Birdsell, RHP
R/R, 6'2 240, Age 22
Texas Tech
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: Friday starter for Red Raiders in 2022... features a 95-99 MPH FB, a mid-80's dive-bomb SL, and a so-so 86-87 MPH CH... has the stamina to be a starter but may be confined to the pen as a two-pitch power arm (FB / SL) in pro ball... went 9-2 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 67 hits (7 HR) with 29/106 BB/K, 7 HBP, amd 10 WP in 15 games (15 GS) and 85 IP for Red Raiders in 2022... had a shoulder injury (rotator cuff) in 2021 but was healthy in 2022... was selected by Houston Astros in 39th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at Texas A&M... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 11th round of 2021 draft but did not sign and returned to Tech... started college career at Texas A&M, then transferred to San Jacinto JC, before ending up in Lubbock...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $402,100
6th ROUND (173)
Will Frisch, RHP
R/R, 6'0 222, Age 22
Oregon State
COLLEGE REDSHIRT SOPH
COMMENT: Was a swingman for Beavers in 2021 and was supposed to move to starting rotation in 2022 before March TJS put him on the shelf... should be ready for Spring Training 2023... went 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, 48 hits (3 HR) allowed with 30/66 BB/K in 27 games (7 GS) and 53.2 IP 2020-21... features a 94-98 MPH FB with sinking action, a swing & miss CH, and an inconsistent SL... profiles as a sinker / change-up bullpen arm in pro ball... was selected by Minnesota Twins in 36th round of 2019 draft but did not sign and enrolled at OSU... was a two-way player (RHP / 3B) at Stillwater HS in Minnesota and was a member of National Honor Society... Stillwater won Minnesota Class 4-A state baseball championship when Frisch was a junior...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $303,700
7th ROUND (203)
Nick Hull, RHP
R/R, 6'2 205, Age 22
Grand Canyon U.
COLLEGE SR
COMMENT: Is attending graduate school at GCU... worked out of Antelopes bullpen 2018-21 and led WAC in lowest ERA (1.77) in 2021, then became GCU Friday starter in 2022. .. went 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, allowing 90 hits (8 HR) and 28/102 BB/K, 4 HBP, and 10 WP, in 16 games (16 GS) and 90.2 IP for GCU in 2022... pitched for Bellingham in West Coast League (a collegiate wood bat league) in 2018, for Mankato in Northwoods League (another collegiate wood bat league) in 2019, and for Orleans in Cape Cod League (the top collegiate wood bat league) in 2021...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $237,300
8th ROUND (233)
Mason McGwire, RHP
R/R, 6'4 190, Age 18
Capistrano Valley HS - Mission Viejo, CA
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Oklahoma
COMMENT: Son of Mark McGwire... two-way player at CVHS (RF / RHP)... features a 89-92 MPH FB and a dive-bomb splitter... older brother Max is a first-baseman at the University of Oklahoma, and Mason will attend OU if he does not sign with Cubs...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $188,900
9th ROUND (263)
Connor Noland, RHP
R/R, 6'3 215, Age 22
U. of Arkansas
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: Razorbacks Friday starter... went 8-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP, allowed 109 hits (7 HR) with 34/113 BB/K, 8 HBP, amd 2 WP, in 20 games (19 GS) and 116 IP in 2022.... features a reliable if unspectacular three-pitch mix with plus-command, including an 89-91 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL, and a CV... was an ESPN 4-star football recruit at Greenwood HS (top three college football prospect in Arkansas) and came to Fayetteville as a two-sport player (QB in football and RHP in baseball), but he quit football after freshman year in 2019 to concentrate on baseball...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $164,500
10th ROUND (293)
Brody McCullough, RHP
R/R, 6'4 205, Age 22
Wingate University
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: D-2 2022 Southern Region Pitcher of the Year... Bulldogs' Friday starter, went 9-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, allowing 48 hits and no HR with 24/100 BB/K in 12 games (11 GS) and 63.2 IP in 2022... is currently pitching for Hyannis in Cape Cod League, where he has put up a 2.70 ERA with 8/30 BB/K in 20 IP... is having an outstanding summer at the Cape, and was named T-Mobile Cape Cod League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 10th... features a low 90's FB, a mid-80's CH, a low-80's SL, and plus command... nickname is "Bird"...
BONUS SLOT VALUE: $154,200
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DAY THREE (7/19)
NOTE: A signing bonus in excess of $125,000 for any player selected in Rounds 11-20 as well as for any player eligible for selection in the draft who is not selected and who is subsequently signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) count against a club's Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool (SBP).
11th ROUND (323)
Branden Noriega, LHP
L/L, 6'2 180, Age 21
Miami-Dade College
JC REDSHIRT SOPH
COMMENT: Pitched for West Virginia in the MLB Draft League (an MLB "partner league" formerly known as the NYP League) in 2022... recorded a 4.91 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, with 6 hits (1 HR) allowed and 10/14 BB/K in 10 games (11 IP) for Black Bears in 2022... attended Miami-Dade College prior to pitching in the MLBDL... spent HS years at Somerset Academy - Silver Palms in Homestead, FL...
12th ROUND (353)
Mathew Peters, RHP
R/R, 6'4 215, Age 21
Ivy Tech CC - Northeast (Ft Wayne)
JC REDSHIRT SOPH
COMMENT: FB clocked at 100+ MPH in March... previously pitched at Hillsborough CC in Plant City, FL, before coming home to Ft. Wayne... went 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA, allowing 31 hits and 18/30 BB/K over the course of 24.2 IP in 13 games (3 GS) for HCC in 2021...
13th ROUND (383)
Luis Rujano, RHP
R/R, 6'5 205, Age 19
Sunshine State Elite Academy - Kissimmee, FL
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: South Florida
COMMENT: Rated by Perfect Game as the #11 HS player in Florida in 2022... features a 96 MPH FB and a CH... will enroll at U. of South Florida if he does not sign with Cubs... was born in Venezuela...
14th ROUND (413)
Shane Marshall, RHP (ex-C)
R/R, 6'4 210, Age 22
U. of Georgia
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: A light-hitting back-up catcher with a plus arm who occasionally threw off the mound in blow-outs... will be converted to pitcher at pro level... hit 210/354/287 with five doubles, 1 HR & 19 RBI, and 21/73 BB/K in 95 games (201 PA) as a catcher over the course of four seasons at Georgia...
15th ROUND (443)
Haydn McGeary, C-1B
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22
Colorado Mesa University
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: A bat-first catcher who also plays 1B and corner OF, but is primarily a DH... was named ABCA National Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022... hit 448/522/930 with 75 HR & 243 RBI, 65 doubles, and 81/88 BB/K in 722 PA (163 games) in three seasons at CMU... is presently hitting 403/482/622 with 4 HR & 28 RBI over the course of 30 games for Bluefield in the Appalachian League (collegiate wood bat summer league)... finished in the top 10 in the nation in HR in his senior year at Thunderbird HS in Glendale, AZ... will transfer to U. of Kentucky if he does not sign with Cubs... first name is spelled Haydn (like the composer)...
16th ROUND (473)
JP Wheat, RHP
R/R, 6'5 185, Age 19
Next Level Academy - Wetumpka, AL
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: Georgia Tech
COMMENT: 19-year old HS senior... ex-OF converted to pitcher in his junior year of HS ... features a 91-96 MPH FB, a 69-74 MPH CV, and a 79-83 MPH CH... will enroll at Georgia Tech if he does not sign with Cubs...
17th ROUND (503)
Andy Garriola, OF
R/R, 6'5 235, Age 22
Old Dominion
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: 2022 second team NCBWA All-American... started all 58 games for the Monarchs and finished 9th in the nation in HR and seventh in the nation in RBI in NCAA D-1 in 2022... hit 324/377/617 with 49 HR & 214 RBI, 53 doubles, and 54/163 BB/K in 784 PA (170 games) over the course of three seasons at ODU... hit 256/319/488 for Cobuit in Cape Cod League (the top summer collegiate wood bat league) in 2021... was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2019...
18th ROUND (533)
Garrett Brown, RHP
L/R, 6'7 218, Age 22
U. of Georgia
COLLEGE REDSHIRT JR
COMMENT: Posted a 1-3 record with a 6.64 ERA and 1.83 WHIP, 48 hits (4 HR) allowed and 29/30 BB/K, 3 HBP, and 9 WP in 42 IP over the course of 16 games (14 GS) combined in 2020 and 2022... missed the 2021 season after undergoing TJS... was a football QB and also played basketball in addition to baseball at Manchester HS in Georgia...
19th ROUND (563)
Brock Blatter, RHP
R/R, 6'6 215, Age 18
Billings Central Catholic HS - Billings, MT
HIGH SCHOOL
COLLEGE COMMIT: U. of Alabama
COMMENT: Pitched for State College in MLB Draft League in 2022 and displayed a 91-95 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL with a high spin-rate, and a CV... had command issues and posted a 0-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 2.21 WHIP, allowing 11 hits (no HR) and 14/16 BB/K and 3 WP in 11.1 IP over the course of 5 games (5 GS started) for the Spikes... his HS did not have a baseball team so he had very little game experience prior to 2022... he did participate in a showcase in Arizona during Spring Training 2022 but did not pitch well there... he will enroll at the U. of Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs, and since he signed the NLI with the Crimson Tide more than a year ago he may want significantly more than $125K to turn pro...
20th ROUND (593)
Ke'Shun Collier, OF
L/R, 5'8 160, Age 21
Meridian CC
JC SOPH
COMMENT: "Old school" high-contact lead-off hitter with no power but plus-speed... hit 368/462/496 with 14 doubles and six triples, 37/32 BB/K, 37 SB (10 CS), and 81 runs scored in 80 games played over the course of two seasons at MCC (2021-22)... he was also a star football player (RB/CB/KR) in HS in Mendenhall, MS... he will transfer to the University of South Alabama if he does not sign with the Cubs...
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The First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft") is held annually over a three-day period in July.
NOTE: Prior to 2021 the draft was held in June.
There are 20 rounds, and draft order is based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie.
Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds).
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.
If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B").
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds.
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).
An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP).
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP.
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold was $210M in 2021, and will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026.
The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed).
NOTE: A CBT payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed.
Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.
A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).
Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - ELIGIBILITY
An individual is eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) if the person is at least 17 years old, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada and has been for at least one year, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school (known as "secondary school" in Canada) or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...
1. Player has graduated from high school and has received a diploma (if the player graduates early from high school and receives a diploma prior to turning 17, the player is eligible for selection if he turns 17 no later than 45 days after the draft and the player submits written notice of early graduation to the MLB Commissioner by January 15th); or
The player's high school class has graduated (12th grade) and
2. Player has not yet graduated from high school but player's high school athletic eligibility has expired; or
3. Player dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft; or
4. Player attended a junior college the previous school year; or
5. Player is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or
6. Player is attending a four-year college and player has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or
7. Player is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft); or
8. Player withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft.
A player dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons less than 120 days prior to the draft is eligible for selection only with the consent of the MLB Commissioner.
For purposes of draft eligibility, a GED is not considered a high school diploma.
NOTE: Prior to the 2017 draft, a GED was considered equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of draft eligibility.
A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.
A high school player eligible for selection may elect (in advance) to have his name removed from draft eligibility in that particular Rule 4 Draft.
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DTAFT ) - NEGOTIATION LIST
Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.
In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until the signing deadline (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection.
EXCEPTIONS: A college senior with no baseball eligibility left and a player who enrolls in a junior college will remain on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (whichever comes first).
NOTE: The signing deadline is August 1st in 2022.
A player selected in the Rule 4 Draft will be declared a free-agent if he is not offered a contract by the signing deadline.
A player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 20th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to the draft, during the draft, or anytime after the conclusion of the draft prior to 9 AM on July 20th.
A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.
A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series (no earlier than 9 AM on the day after the final game of the World Series), or for 90 days if the player signs after the World Series.
NOTE: Previously, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft could not be traded until the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract.
A player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series.
CUBS 2022 MLB RULE 4 NEGOTIATION LIST
TBA
CUBS 2022 MLB RULE 4 NDFA SIGNED
TBA
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - SIGNING BONUS POOL
There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.
Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues).
The Cubs 2022 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $10,092,700
If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP. There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $125,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $125,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 20th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to the draft, during the draft, or anytime after the conclusion of the draft prior to 9 AM on July 20th.
If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).
Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - COMPENSATION DRAFT PICKS
A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is awarded to a club if the club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds of the MLB Rule 4 Draft (including compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4, Competitive Balance draft picks, draft picks awarded to a club after the club loses an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player, and draft picks assigned to clubs from the SBP forfeited draft pick lottery).
A player who submits to a pre-draft physical must be offered a signing bonus equal to at least 75% of the slot value in order for the selecting club to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign.
If a player selected prior to the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season.
If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection after the 3rd round in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).
A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign (same slot as the extra compensation draft pick for a player not signed after being selected prior to the 3rd round, and between the 3rd round compensation picks and the 4th round for a compensation draft pick not signed after being selected after the 3rd round), but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.
A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another club.
Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd round of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), between Rounds 1 & 2 (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, and between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payors (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax").
If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.
A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player to another club is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club.
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - COMPETITIVE BALANCE DRAFT PICKS
"Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "A") and between the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "B").
Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs, some of which are the same club) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.
Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture by clubs signing a Qualified Player.
A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
NOTE: 2020 and 2021 Rule 4 Competitive Balance draft picks cannot be traded beginning on March 28, 2020, and extending through the conclusion of the 2021 draft.
If a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DRAFT) - SBP FORFEITED DRAFT PICKS
A Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft pick that is forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery to be held on the Wednesday following the MLB Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. All MLB clubs that have not exceeded its SBP limit as of that point in time are eligible to participate in this lottery.
As with Competitive Balance draft picks, Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during a period of time beginning on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
If a club that is awarded a Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft pick subsequently exceeds its SBP, the pick will be forfeited and another lottery will be held (date and time TBA by the MLB Commissioner) to allocate the pick to another club.
If a club trades a Rule 4 Forfeited Draft pick to another club, it cannot subsequently sign a player subject to the club's Rule 4 SBP if signing the player causes the club to exceed its SBP.
If a player selected with a Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign.
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