When it comes to draft signings, a lot of emphasis is placed on how much money certain picks got and why.  With good reason, too - it can often explain why a draft pick went as high as he did or why another slid to the later rounds despite being a top talent.

However, another important indicator of a draft haul is the total amount of money a team spends on its draft class and its percentage above slot bonus.  The Red Sox, for one, did not hand out any extremely large contracts such as those given to Zach Lee of the Dodgers or Nick Castellanos of the Tigers, but spent the 3rd most money of any team in 2010, behind the Pirates and Nationals who each had a large chunk of their draft budget go to the #2 and #1 picks, respectively. 

Nick Castellanos got a record $3.45M signing bonus for a supplemental round pick from the Tigers

Similarly, the Yankees spent "only" $5.126M on their 2020 draft class, which would put them in the middle of the pack, but were 188% over slot value, good for fourth. 

The draft signing numbers are courtesy of Baseball America's Jim Callis who compiled the team numbers and plenty more.   For those of you who love to see the numbers behind baseball, especially as it pertains to money (like me), Jim's got a bunch of great charts to look at.

• Spending vs. Slots for the first 10 rounds
  
• Total draft bonus spending, 2008-2010
• Highest draft bonuses ever
• Largest contracts in draft history
• Highest bonuses by round, 2010

We are just hours away from today's deadline to sign player selected in June's amateur draft and the rumors are starting to swirl about who will sign and for how much.  In the interim, a number of non-first round draft picks continue to sign for over market value.

As always, Jim Callis and Aaron Fitt from Baseball America leads the pack in breaking this news.

• Pepperdine RHP Cole Cook signed with the Indians for $299K.  As a fifth round pick, the 150th overall, the recommended slot bonus is $169,200.
• Florida State outfielder Tyler Holt, a 10th round pick by the Cleveland Indians, also agreed to a $500K signing bonus with the Indians ($350K over).

• The Marlins signed high school shortstop/catcher JT Realmuto to a $600K signing bonus.  Realmuto was the 104th pick of the draft in the third round, a slot bonus recommendation of $309,600.
• High school catcher Will Swanner, a 15th round pick by the Rockies, agreed to a $490K signing bonus, $340K in excess of the recommendation.  
• Jake DePew, a high school catcher and ninth round pick by the Rays, signed for $460K, $310K over the slot recommendation.
• Jared Lakind, a high school first baseman, agreed to a $400K signing bonus with the Pirates.  A 23rd round pick, Lakind's deal was $250K over slot recommendation.
• The Padres have signed high school outfielder Jose Dore to a $450K signing bonus, three times the slot recommendation for an eighth-round pick.  

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Players and teams agreeing to signing bonuses over the MLB slot recommendation is not something unusual for the first round, especially the top picks.  As of yet unsigned, guys like Bryce Harper, Jameson Taillon and Manny Machado seem certain to sign for more than the MLB slot recommendations for the first through third overall picks.

The constant among the top picks, however, is that they are all likely to sign in some fashion.  On the rare instances when they do not, teams are compensated for their failure to sign a first round pick with a similar first round pick the next year. 

How much will it take for the Orioles to sign Manny Machado?

Where above slot signings become more interesting is with later round picks.  Often players with signability questions - particularly high school players who can go to college and re-enter the draft at a later date - slide in the draft because if teams select the players after the first round and do not sign them, they are left with nothing.  On the flip side, if a team can sign a player with a later round pick, they have a draft steal, so to speak.

Over the past week, a number of later round picks have signed for well over their slot bonus.  Jim Callis of Baseball America reported the signings with more information on each player in his posts.

• The Red Sox have signed high schooler (and Boston Celtic center) Kendrick Perkins to a $628K signing bonus.  Perkins was a sixth-round selection.

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After being selected in the first round or supplemental round of the 2010 Draft on June 8th, 2010, teams and players had until August 16th, 2010 at 11:59pm to agree to a signing bonus and begin their professional career or head to college.  The only exception to this rule are college seniors with whom there is no set time table for when they have to sign.

1) Washington: Bryce Harper - $9.9M signing bonus
2) Pittsburgh: Jameson Taillon - $6.5M signing bonus
3) Baltimore: Manny Machado - $5.25M signing bonus
4) Kansas City: Christian Colon - $2,75M signing bonus
5) Cleveland: Drew Pomeranz - $2.65M signing bonus
6) Arizona: Barret Loux - Did not sign, failed physical
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey - $2.5M signing bonus
8) Houston: Delino DeSheilds Jr. - $2.15M signing bonus
9) San Diego: Karsten Whitson - No contract signed, will attend Florida
10) Oakland: Michael Choice - $2M signing bonus
11) Toronto: Deck McGuire - $2M signing bonus
12) Cincinnati: Yasmani Grandal - $3.2M signing bonus
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale - $1,656M signing bonus
14) Milwaukee: Dylan Covey - Did not sign, will attend San Diego
15) Texas: Jake Skole - $1.557M signing bonus
16) Chicago Cubs: Hayden Simpson - $1.06M signing bonus
17) Tampa Bay: Josh Sale - $1.62M signing bonus
18) Los Angeles Angels: Kaleb Cowart - $2.3M signing bonus
19) Houston: Mike Foltynewicz - $1.3M signing bonus
20) Boston: Kolbrin Vitek - $1.359M signing bonus
21) Minnesota: Alex Wimmers - $1.332M signing bonus
22) Texas: Kellin Deglan - $1M signing bonus
23) Florida: Christian Yelich - $1.7M signing bonus
24) San Francisco: Gary Brown - $1.45M signing bonus
25) St. Louis: Zack Cox - $3.2M signing bonus
26) Colorado: Kyle Parker - $1.4M signing bonus
27) Philadelphia: Jesse Biddle - $1.16M signing bonus
28) Los Angeles Dodgers: Zach Lee - $5.25M signing bonus
29) Los Angeles Angels: Cam Bedrosian - $1.116M signing bonus
30) Los Angeles Angels: Chevez Clarke - $1.089M signing bonus
31) Tampa Bay: Justin O'Conner - $1.025M signing bonus
32) New York Yankees: Cito Culver - $954K signing bonus

Supplemental Round

33) Houston: Michael Kvasnicka - $936K signing bonus
34) Toronto: Aaron Sanchez - $775K signing bonus
35) Atlanta: Matt Lipka - $800K signing bonus
36) Boston: Bryce Brentz - $892K signing bonus
37) Los Angeles Angels: Taylor Lindsey - $873K signing bonus
38) Toronto: Noah Syndergaard - $600K signing bonus
39) Boston: Anthony Ranaudo - $2.55M signing bonus
40) Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Bolden - $829K signing bonus
41) Toronto: Asher Wojciechowski - $814K signing bonus
42) Tampa Bay: Drew Vettleson - $845K signing bonus
43) Seattle: Taijuan Walker - $800K signing bonus
44) Detroit: Nick Castellanos - $3.45M signing bonus
45) Texas: Luke Jackson - $1.557M signing bonus
46) St. Louis: Seth Blair - $751K signing bonus
47) Colorado: Peter Tago - 982,500 signing bonus
48) Detroit: Chance Ruffin - $1.15M signing bonus
49) Texas: Mike Olt - $717K signing bonus
50) St. Louis: Tyrell Jenkins - $1.3M signing bonus

A review of the first round of the 2010 draft.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
4) Kansas City Royals: Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS

5) Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Barret Loux, Texas Tech, RHP
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey, UNC, RHP
8) Houston Astros: Delino DeSheilds Jr., Woodward Park Academy, 2B
9) San Diego Padres: Karsten Whitson, Chipley HS, RHP
10) Oakland As: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
12) Cincinnati Reds: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Dylan Covey, Marantha HS, RHP
15) Texas Rangers: Jake Skole, Blessed Trinity HS, OF

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We've presented mock drafts from a number of different writers and publishers and multiple versions of their mock drafts.  With just a few hours left before the draft, it is time for Baseball Rumor Mill's shot at a mock draft of tonight's first round.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
Little left to say here as this pick is set in stone.

2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
Multiple reports have the Pirates taking Taillon

3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
This pick is down to Taillon or Machado, whomever Pittsburgh doesn't take

4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
Rumors about a pre-draft deal with Yasmani Grandal are falling apart.  The Royals have been rumored to want to keep costs down anyway, so Sale makes sense.

5) Cleveland Indians: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
If the rumors about the Indians upping the Royals offer are true, Grandal will go here.

6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
All reports have Pomeranz going here

7) New York Mets: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
His rumored salary demands could send him tumbling, but the Mets have money and the big names have all gone in front of them.

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Jim Callis of Baseball America and Keith Law of espn.com give their latest mock drafts of tonight's first round.  Here are some interesting aspects of each version.

• Both have Jameson Taillon going to the Pirates with the second pick.  This has been widely rumored this morning, culminating with Nick James of PNR Scouting saying he received a text saying a deal between Taillon and the Pirates has been consummated.  This almost certainly means high school shortstop Manny Machado will go to the Orioles with the third pick.

• Law has Miami C Yasmani Grandal going to the Royals at 4, but Callis has Kansas City taking Chris Sale.  Frankie Piliere from MLB Fan House tweets that the Indians are trying up the Royals rumored deal for Grandal in order to get him ate #5.
• Law has Texas A&M pitcher Barrett Loux going to the Diamondbacks at #6.  Certainly the highest we've seen him rumored.  Same with Law putting Delino DeShields Jr. to the Astros at #8.  Callis has the pair going #13 to the White Sox and #11 to the Blue Jays, respectively.

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Plenty of draft news to pass along this morning.

• First, here's today's draft order for reference.
• The Padres are considering a center fielder with their pick (#9) write John Maffei of the North County Times.  UT-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice and Ball State 2B/OF Kolbrin Vitek are options for the Padres.  New assistant GM Jason MacLeod ran the drafts for the Red Sox before coming to San Diego with general manager Jed Hoyer prior to the season.
• The Rockies have been frequently linked to local prospect Kevin Gausman, but Troy E. Renick of the Denver Post writes that they're also considering high schoolers Aaron Sanchez and Nick Castellanos.  I'm not sure Castellanos will last to the Rockies at #26.

• Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette feels that the Pirates will take Manny Machado over Jameson Taillon with the second pick.  
• The Orioles are fine with settling for Taillon, writes Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
• Jim Callis of Baseball America disagrees with Finder and thinks the Pirates will go for Taillon.  The Pirates do not have a history of taking high school pitchers so high, so I tend to lean towards them going with Machado as well.  Many people have Machado ranked higher as well and I can't imagine either player will be less expensive than the other.  However, espn.com's Buster Olney heard that Pittsburgh is going with Taillon and espn.com's Keith Law has Taillon at #2 in his latest mock draft. 
• Toronto is considering Delino DeShields Jr., Josh Sale, and Deck McGuire with the 11th pick writes Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.  Elliott also insinuates that the Blue Jays have a good budget for this year's draft.  IF that's the case, Sale seems like the pick here as he'll likely be more expensive than McGuire.

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com gives us his spin on how the first round of Monday's draft will play out.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
3) Baltimore Orioles: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
5) Cleveland Indians: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
7) New York Mets: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
8) Houston Astros: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
9) San Diego Padres: Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State, 2B

10) Oakland As: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchett HS, OF
12) Cincinnati Reds: Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State, OF
13) Chicago White Sox: Barret Loux, Texas Tech, RHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy HS, 3B
15) Texas Rangers: Brandon Workman, Texas, RHP

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Keith Law of espn.com presents his most recent mock draft.  Here's his new take on the first round.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
4) Kansas City Royals: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
5) Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Matt Harvey, UNC, RHP
7) New York Mets: Zack Cox, Arkansas, 3B
8) Houston Astros: Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchett HS, OF
9) San Diego Padres: Karsten Whitson, Chipley HS, RHP

10) Oakland As: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS
12) Cincinnati Reds: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
13) Chicago White Sox: Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel, RHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
15) Texas Rangers: Delino DeSheilds Jr., Woodward Park Academy, 2B

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