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MLB announces 2026 Draft Bonus pool, Blue Jays have the second-lowest
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Photo credit: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Apr 2, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 2, 2026, 14:21 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have been drafting well over the past few years.
After finishing with a 74-88 record in 2024, the Blue Jays used the eighth overall pick to select JoJo Parker, who already looks like he could be a fast riser. It was the third straight year where they did pretty well, though I’d argue they did alright in the 2022 draft as well.
The Blue Jays also went over the second Competitive Balance Tax threshold, meaning their first round pick, which would’ve been 29th overall thanks to winning the American League pennant, dropped 10 spots to the 39th overall pick. Additionally, they signed Dylan Cease, who had received a qualifying offer, meaning they lost their second and fourth-round picks, but got a pick back after the fourth-round thanks to losing Bo Bichette.
The draft doesn’t take place until July 12th, but on Wednesday, Major League Baseball released the signing bonus pool money for all 30 teams. With the 39th pick being their first pick in the draft and losing their second-rounder, the Blue Jays have just over $5.543 million in bonus pool money to play with. That is the second-lowest bonus pool, with the Dodgers’ $3.952 million being the lowest.
There is a significant gap between the 28th and 29th-lowest bonus pools, as the New York Mets have about $6.731 million. Every other team has more than $7 million to play with. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the highest bonus pool, with a record-breaking $19,130,700.
As for the pick order, the Blue Jays’ first round pick is 39th. Their next pick is 103rd overall, then 131st overall, and 164th overall. In the sixth-rounder, the Jays will pick 193rd, then 222nd in the seventh round. From there on, the Blue Jays will pick every 30 selections.
The Blue Jays have done a terrific job in recent years at finding diamonds in the rough with a lower-bonus pool. Despite having the eighth overall pick in the last draft (a slot value of about $6.814 million), they had the 20th-lowest bonus pool. That didn’t stop them from selecting an interesting prospect in Jake Cook in the third round, while also grabbing two top 250 draft prospects in Jared Spencer and Blaine Bullard with their 11th and 12th round picks respectively.
In 2023, they drafted Trey Yesavage, which has already paid dividends, but were able to get prep left-handed pitcher Johnny King in the third-round by under-slotting Khal Stephen. Just a year later, Stephen was flipped for Shane Bieber. After the first 10 picks, the Jays realized they had money left over, drafting two interesting high school pitchers in Troy Guthrie and Carson Messina with their 11th and 12th round picks.
So all this being said, don’t worry that the Blue Jays’ signing bonus pool is as low as it is, as they’ve shown ways to get creative over the past four years.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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