Latest news with #JimCallis
Forbes
30-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
30 Major League Teams Spend Record $392.5 Million On 2025 Draft Picks
Baseball is a game of records, though the modern fan seems to focus less on in-game production and more on extravagant paychecks. The 30 MLB teams didn't disappoint this month by breaking numerous spending records on their 2025 draft picks. They doled out a record $392,533,711 in signing bonuses for drafted players, $18.2 million more than the $374,345,077 paid a year ago. Even the Cleveland Guardians, considered among the most cost-conscious clubs, set a spending record according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline. They paid $4 million to first-round choice Jace Laviolette, a slugging outfielder from Texas A&M. That was about $618,000 over what MLB set as a $3.382 million recommended slot value for the No. 27 choice. It was a surprising anomaly this year as only two other clubs went over the slot blueprint in the first round. Clubs more than made up for it by paying out higher values to lower picks. A year ago, Cleveland held the No. 1 pick and paid Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana a team-record $8.95 million. That was below the MLB slot value of $10,570,600. A few other significant monetary marks were established. Baltimore's Bundle The Orioles had their own choice at No. 19. They received pick No. 30 as compensation for losing free agent pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks and No. 31 for losing free agent outfielder Anthony Santander to the Toronto Blue Jays. They acquired pick No. 37 from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for reliever Bryan Baker on July 10. Baltimore picked hard-hitting Auburn catcher Ike Irish at No. 19. His slot value was $4,420,900 and he got $4,418,400, The team claimed the $2,500 difference as a contingency bonus, meaning that amount could be saved in their overall bonus pool to be used elsewhere. Next, the Orioles took Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine 30th and paid him exact slot value of $3,113,300. The switch hitter is considered an elite defender as well. The club is considering switching Irish to the outfield. One pick later, Baltimore took power-hitting Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy and paid exact slot $3,042,800. They rounded out their early cache by paying $4 million to Oregon high school outfielder Slater de Brun at No. 37. That was well above the $2,631,400 slot value for the 37th choice, but the team did it to keep him from honoring his signing commitment to play college ball at Vanderbilt. National Treasures High school shortstop Eli Willits was the surprise No. 1 pick by the Washington Nationals. The financial figures of his signing are somewhat surprising, too. The slot value was $11,075,900. He got $8,200,000, a record for a prep player before Holliday broke it. But Willits' agreeing to take less probably was a factor in being picked ahead of Holliday and other highly ranked prospects. Washington took the money 'saved' and spent it on three other prep players. Third-round choice Landon Harmon, a pitcher, and fifth-rounder Coy James, a shortstop, each got $2.5 million. Fourth-rounder Miguel Sime, a pitcher from Brooklyn, N.Y., got $2 million. Those deals were all well above slot value. Signing Them All Increased spending has helped MLB teams become more proficient than ever at signing their pick. This year, 576 of 615 draftees signed. That 93.7% rate is the highest for a regular draft. Only the Covid 19 pandemic-shortened five-round 2020 draft was better, when all 160 picks signed. How good was that 100 percent signing rate at nabbing players who made it to the Major League level? Here are the percentages and best players thus far: Sixty Years Ago The first MLB Draft was held in 1965 and 65% (13 of 20) of the first-round picks made it to MLB, led by No. 1 choice Rick Monday of the Oakland Athletics. He signed for $100,000. The 36th choice overall, by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round, was a high school catcher from Oklahoma – Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. He signed for $6,000. The Los Angeles Dodgers took Tom Seaver in the 10th round, but the future Hall of Famer asked for $50,000. The Dodgers offered $3,000, so he stayed at Southern Cal and was picked by the Atlanta Braves at No. 20 overall in the January 1966 draft. Seaver signed for $40,000, but the contract was ruled illegal as his college team had already begun playing that year. That was against MLB rules, but he could not go back to USC, either, after signing a pro deal. MLB ruled that any team other than Atlanta could submit offers of at least $40,000 with the winner literally being picked out of a hat. The Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets submitted bids. The Mets' bid was picked and Seaver got $51,000. What surprises are in store among players picked in the 2025 MLB Draft? Since only 615 players were chosen, it will not produce another surprise like Mike Piazza. The slugging catcher is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was selected in the 62nd found – No. 1,390 overall – by the Dodgers.
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Red Sox sign first-round pick for $5 million, plus a few other top draft picks
While the Red Sox were picking up a big win at Wrigley Field on Sunday, members of their front office were handling some draft-related business back home. Boston announced its first batch of draft pick signings, with first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon — a right-hander from Oklahoma — headlining the group of players who have already put pen to paper. Witherspoon, the No. 15 pick, signed for a $5 million signing bonus, according to Jim Callis. That's slightly under his slot value of $5,114,200. Witherspoon's bonus is tied for the second-largest in Red Sox history, tying 2024 first-rounder Braden Montgomery (who got $5 million before being traded to the White Sox). Marcelo Mayer's $6.64 million commitment from 2021 is the highest. Witherspoon's bonus is the largest the Sox have ever given to a pitcher. The previous record holder was the $3.65 million bonus the club gave to Jay Groome, the 12th overall pick in 2016. Boston also got a deal done with its second pick (No. 33 overall), Tennessee righty Marcus Phillips, that's reportedly worth $2.5 million (a bit less than the slot value of $2,898,300). Third-rounder Anthony Eyanson, a righty out of LSU, also got a seven-figure bonus of $1.75 million, per Callis. That exceeds his slot value of $907,200. Boston also got deals done with its fifth round pick, Arkansas righty Christian Foutch, valued a bit under slot at $400,000, and its sixth round pick, Georgia righty Leighton Finley at slot value of $364,800. Ninth-rounder Jacob Mayers got $190,000 and 10th-rounder Maximus Martin received $191,300. The Red Sox signed 16 of their 20 draftees. Notably, 11th rounder Barrett Morgan, a right-handed pitcher out of Cowley Community College in Kansas, got a big bonus of $500,000 to prevent him from honoring his commitment to Texas A&M. It's expected Witherspoon — and potentially Phillips, Eyanson and other top picks — will be at Fenway Park to be officially introduced as members of the Red Sox soon. There's no word yet on where any of the signed players, who all reported to Fort Myers, will be assigned to start their pro careers. The five unsigned draftees are second-round compensation pick Henry Godbout, fourth-rounder Mason White, seventh-rounder Myles Patton, eighth-rounder Dylan Brown and 20th-rounder Garrison Sumner. Because draft bonuses are often agreed upon before the draft, there's little indication that the Red Sox don't expect to get deals done with those players. More Red Sox coverage Red Sox starter not ready to say 'I'm back' after great outing, but pushing to keep spot ahead of trade deadline With strike looming, Fenway concession workers have Red Sox players' support Red Sox question MLB rule after becoming second team since 1920 to lose in 'really weird' way Red Sox reactions: Walker Buehler's solid night spoiled as Boston loses on bizarre walk-off Alex Cora explains why Red Sox shut down Tanner Houck (and gives other injury updates) Read the original article on MassLive.
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jamie Anold signs with Athletics
Jamie Arnold is officially a member of the Athletics. Jim Callis of reported on Wednesday that the former Florida State Seminole pitcher had signed with the Athletics for $5,985,100. It is the slot value of the No. 11 pick, making him the second FSU player to sign for the full value of their pick, joining Cam Leiter, who signed with the Dodgers on Wednesday. Arnold appeared in 58 games during his time as a Seminole, making 41 starts and finishing with a 3.61 ERA in 234 1/3 innings pitched. After an inconsistent freshman season, he burst onto the scene as a sophomore, becoming one of the best pitchers in the country and a consensus All-American. He followed with an excellent junior season, posting a 2.98 ERA in 84 2/3 innings with 119 strikeouts and 27 walks. He held opponents to a .208 batting average and was once again a consensus All-American. He is Florida State's highest-drafted player since Buster Posey went 5th overall to the San Francisco Giants in the 2008 MLB draft and the first FSU pitcher to be drafted in the first round since Luke Weaver in 2014. Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox sign star righty with 99 MPH fastball to $5 million contract
The Boston Red Sox got a gem. At pick No. 15 in the 2025 MLB Draft last week, they landed Kyson Witherspoon. The right-handed pitcher out of Oklahoma was projected by almost everyone to go in the top-10. And now, the Red Sox signed him just under slot value, getting him for a $5 million signing bonus, per Jim Callis (slot was $5.11 million). The assessment from Callis: "Best college RHP in MLB Draft, fastball to 99 mph, one of best curves in Draft, slider & cutter are weapons too." Sounds pretty great. MORE: Former Yankees, Astros slugger reaches 500 career home runs far from home The MLB Draft is always a tad underwhelming just because the players take a couple years to make it to the majors. But Witherspoon is a guy Red Sox fans will enjoy following as he climbs the ladder. And as a proven college pitcher out of the SEC, Witherspoon could move pretty quickly. He's officially signed, and his journey to Boston has begun. MORE MLB NEWS: Trevor Bauer has the worst ERA in Japan's NPB Blue Jays' Addison Barger could hit from the wrong side of plate and be a star Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson once had the most legendary clash at Yankee Stadium Cal Raleigh, aka Big Dumper, signs the perfect endorsement deal Aaron Judge reveals how long he plans to play in MLB Quinn Priester did the unthinkable against the Dodgers
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Pair of Seminoles taken in final 2025 MLB mock draft
The 2025 MLB draft is here, and the Florida State Seminoles are set to have a busy couple of days with numerous players expected to be drafted this weekend. It will get started on Sunday with the first three rounds at 6 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia. has released their final mock draft, featuring the first 43 picks, and they are expecting two former Seminoles to hear their name called. Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo are both projecting the Cincinnati Reds to draft Jamie Arnold with the No. 8 overall pick. He finished the 2025 season with a 2.98 ERA. In 84.2 innings, he recorded 119 strikeouts against 63 hits and 27 walks. He held opponents to a .208 batting average and made six All-American teams. Callis then has the Minnesota Twins selecting shortstop Alex Lodise with the No. 36 overall pick. Mayo did not have him going in the first 43 picks. Lodise finished his breakout season hitting .394 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles, 68 RBI, and 62 runs scored. He also played excellent defense at shortstop and win the Dick Howser Trophy and was a consensus First-Team All-American. Other players who could be drafted on Sunday night include outfielder Max Williams and pitcher Cam Leiter. Several more Seminoles are expected to be drafted on Monday. Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions
