Blue Jays' early draft signings leave them with valuable bonus pool flexibility

Fans may look back on the Toronto Blue Jays 2026 MLB Draft and consider it a real stroke of genius for the way they operated. They had a 10-pick penalty, resulting in their first pick not being made until 39th overall. They had no second round pick and they had the second smallest bonus pool in the draft.

Yet they still took some big swings and many insiders are suggesting they landed two Top-50 guys that fans should automatically be excited about in Cole Carlon (No. 39 overall) and Will Brick (No . 131 overall). But calling a players name on draft day is only part of the job. The Blue Jays have taken the next step and signed most of the players (through Jul. 18) with still some room to spare.

That's important because getting Brick to sign on the dotted line was always going to be the toughest part. The 18-year-old out of CBHS in Tennessee was arguably the best high school catcher in the draft and may need to be signed above his slot value. And that seems perfectly doable, now that the Blue Jays have signed several of their picks below slot value, including first rounder Carlon.

Carlon signed for $2.4 million, saving the Blue Jays' about $170,000. They also landed Gable Mitchell (No. 193 overall), Nolan Higgins (No. 164 overall), Jake Bennett (No. 252 overall), Joey Urban (No. 282 overall), and Bryce Chance (No. 312 overall) for under slot value, which saved them $1.3-million (before the Carlon deal).

Brick and Cooney still waiting for their deals

The reason Brick may come in above slot is based on his pre-draft ranking of being the 46th-best prospect according to MLB pipeline. His presence behind the plate, his above average arm and his ability to receive pitches all graded out to him turning into an exceptional defensive catcher. His hitting tools should also develop nicely. But it's the fact that he is a catcher that perhaps allowed the Blue Jays to pick him up.

Catchers can be volatile and hard to develop, so using a first to third round pick on a back stopper that you may have to over pay could have been a tough proposition for some clubs. But if the Blue Jays manage to make it happen, it will be a flattering pat on the back for a scouting staff that seemingly had their hands tied going into the draft.

Ryan Cooney, the Blue Jays' third round pick, has also not signed. The infielder they plucked from the Oregon Ducks was ranked No. 137 on MLB Pipeline's pre-draft rankings board and the Blue Jays selected him at No. 103 overall. That could play a factor into his signing bonus as well.

The six-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitter was an extreme contact hitter with the Ducks this past year, slashing .331/.420/.524 while striking out only 35 times. He had 82 hits, 22 doubles and 13 stolen bases. His profile fits exactly the kind of hitter the Blue Jays have been trying to develop at the big league level the last couple of years and it would be quite a shock if they didn't manage to get Cooney into their system.

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