International Bonus Pool

[Chico]

So, I've come across some articles about the Yankees collecting bonus pool money to make a run at Shohei Ohtani. They collected cash for the Orioles twice and the A's in the Sonny Gray deal. The Rangers also collected some cash from the Orioles and White Sox and it was suggested they coud make a run at Ohtani. I know the Braves are in the penalty, so this isn't their game, but there could be some more deals going down for prospects/international money. Is there a site that has which teams are in the penalty, which teams are not, and how much each team has collected/spent to get an idea of who will be possibly trading money and who would be collecting it?

[Horsehide Harry]

So, I've come across some articles about the Yankees collecting bonus pool money to make a run at Shohei Ohtani. They collected cash for the Orioles twice and the A's in the Sonny Gray deal. The Rangers also collected some cash from the Orioles and White Sox and it was suggested they coud make a run at Ohtani. I know the Braves are in the penalty, so this isn't their game, but there could be some more deals going down for prospects/international money. Is there a site that has which teams are in the penalty, which teams are not, and how much each team has collected/spent to get an idea of who will be possibly trading money and who would be collecting it?

As I understand the way it works now, a team can trade away 100% of its BP money but can only acquire up to 75% more than their initial amount. So, the White Sox, having a worse record AND more initial BP money than the Yanks could still acquire enough to have more than the Yankees no matter what the Yanks do....

[bravesfanMatt]

We need to send Kemp and his salary to the stankees for a midling prospect and we will also fill up their international coffers.

[mqt]

I swore I read there'd be a loophole Otani could use to get more money.

[smootness]

As I understand the way it works now, a team can trade away 100% of its BP money but can only acquire up to 75% more than their initial amount. So, the White Sox, having a worse record AND more initial BP money than the Yanks could still acquire enough to have more than the Yankees no matter what the Yanks do....

The White Sox are in the penalty now.

[bravesfanMatt]

The White Sox are in the penalty now.

I also don't think record has anything to do with BP money. Market size is the factor that gets teams a little more. I think a lot of teams that are not penalized are going to be trading for slot money. I don't think it is unwise to acquire as much as we can. very good assets to have this off season and going into next year.

[cajunrevenge]

I swore I read there'd be a loophole Otani could use to get more money.

If he waits till he is 25 which is 2 years he isnt tied to the bonus pool so he would get 4-5 times more money. He has publicly said its not about the money and he wanted to sign with a MLB team out of high school. I am not buying it that he will come over now.

[smootness]

I also don't think record has anything to do with BP money. Market size is the factor that gets teams a little more. I think a lot of teams that are not penalized are going to be trading for slot money. I don't think it is unwise to acquire as much as we can. very good assets to have this off season and going into next year.

It is based on record, but yeah, it might be a good idea to acquire more this early. We can either sign more guys ourselves or package a good bit of it to a team desperate to add it later.

[Preacher]

My question is we just traded for $1.25 million -- that's for this cycle right? Can any of it roll over into next year?

I really don't know how this works.

[smootness]

My question is we just traded for $1.25 million -- that's for this cycle right? Can any of it roll over into next year?

I really don't know how this works.

No, it is all just for this cycle.

[Preacher]

No, it is all just for this cycle.

that's what I figured, which makes it a little weird right? Just about all the big names have signed and we already inked a bunch of kids. interested to see where this money goes.

[Horsehide Harry]

Would be funny if Braves signed Ohtani to a $300k bonus then in a month "extended" him giving him a ML contract with $10M signing bonus

[mqt]

If he waits till he is 25 which is 2 years he isnt tied to the bonus pool so he would get 4-5 times more money. He has publicly said its not about the money and he wanted to sign with a MLB team out of high school. I am not buying it that he will come over now.

I know that rule, but when the CBA was announced there was talk of a loophole to get Otani over this year.

[cajunrevenge]

Otani does not need a loophole to come over now.

[Orphan Black]

Would be funny if Braves signed Ohtani to a $300k bonus then in a month "extended" him giving him a ML contract with $10M signing bonus

mlb has said they would be monitoring this closely to insure something like this doesn't happen

[Chico]

mlb has said they would be monitoring this closely to insure something like this doesn't happen

Yeah, I did hear that as well.

So from what I can gather the Rangers or Yankees may be making a bid to get Ohtani. By gather, I mean reading speculative stories with no merit on the internet.

My first thought when hearing the Rangers was we would be looking at a deal for Profar since we've been linked to him before if they were wanting the cash to do so.

[Enscheff]

I know that rule, but when the CBA was announced there was talk of a loophole to get Otani over this year.

Pretty sure there's no loophole.

Most likely scenario is some team gives him max money, and then extends him early in his first season like the Rays did with Longoria. Since the Rays and Longoria set the precedent, it will be hard for MLB to claim they did anything shady.

[clvclv]

Yeah, I did hear that as well.

So from what I can gather the Rangers or Yankees may be making a bid to get Ohtani. By gather, I mean reading speculative stories with no merit on the internet.

My first thought when hearing the Rangers was we would be looking at a deal for Profar since we've been linked to him before if they were wanting the cash to do so.

Still wouldn't personally be against taking a flier on Profar, but given the track record of our scouts and their ability to find players like Albies, Acuna, and others for less than $300,000 I'm not sure the $1.25 million wouldn't be better spent letting them take a crack at signing an extra 10-12 July 2nd kids.