TORONTO – With nearly a month remaining before the deadline for signing 2019 draft picks, the Toronto Blue Jays are locking players up in quick succession, setting up the possibility that they’ll sign each of their top-10 selections.
The latest to sign, according to sources: fourth-round outfielder Will Robertson and 10th-round shortstop Glenn Santiago. Robertson obtained a below-slot bonus of $422,500 while Santiago signed above-slot at $172,500.
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They join right-hander Kendall Williams, shortstop Tanner Morris, shortstop Cameron Eden, second baseman L.J. Talley and third baseman Angel Camacho, whose signings the team announced Monday, plus first-rounder Alek Manoah, who reportedly agreed to a slot deal with the team last week.
Morris obtained an over-slot bonus ($397,500) but Eden ($222,500), Talley ($22,500) and Camacho ($2,500) all signed considerably below slot, according to sources. Those savings allow the Blue Jays to spend more elsewhere, with third-round pick Dasan Brown a possible beneficiary.
| Round | Name | Position | Slot Value | Actual Bonus | Difference | Drafted Out of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alek Manoah | RHP | 4,550,000 | 4,547,500 | -2,500 | West Virginia University |
| 2 | Kendall Williams | RHP | 1,400,000 | 1,547,500 | 147,500 | IMG Academy |
| 3 | Dasan Brown | OF | 678,600 | Abbey Park H.S. | ||
| 4 | Will Robertson | OF | 492,700 | 422,500 | -70,200 | Creighton University |
| 5 | Tanner Morris | SS | 367,900 | 397,500 | 29,600 | University of Virginia |
| 6 | Cameron Eden | SS | 279,500 | 222,500 | -57,000 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 7 | L.J. Talley | 2B | 218,500 | 22,500 | -196,000 | University of Georgia |
| 8 | Angel Camacho | 3B | 175,000 | 2,500 | -172,500 | Jacksonville University |
| 9 | Philip Clarke | C | 154,900 | Vanderbilt University | ||
| 10 | Glenn Santiago | SS | 145,500 | 172,500 | 27,000 | High School, Puerto Rico |
| Total | 8,463,300 | -294,100 |
At this point, Brown and ninth-round pick Philip Clarke are the only players drafted in the top 10 rounds who haven’t reached agreements with the Blue Jays. That said, the team seems well-positioned to sign both.
Brown, a speedy 17-year-old from Oakville, Ont., has committed to Texas A&M, but he recently told Shi Davidi that the Blue Jays were offering "a good deal" and that he wanted to "take advantage of the opportunity presented." Some in the industry believe he’ll sign an over-slot deal with the Blue Jays, who certainly have room to spend more than the recommended $678,600 bonus.
As for Clarke, it’s worth noting that he’s catching for a Vanderbilt team that’s now playing in the College World Series. Once his season ends, talks could accelerate with the draft-eligible sophomore.
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Combined, the eight picks the Blue Jays have signed so far have obtained bonuses that are $294,100 below slot. That gives amateur scouting director Steve Sanders room to spend.
The Blue Jays have a total draft bonus pool of $8,463,300 to distribute among their top-10 picks. Adding further flexibility, teams can out-spend their pool by up to five per cent without losing future draft picks.
Teams have until Friday, July 12 to sign their 2019 selections.
