Amateur & International Talent Acquisition
Amateur & International Talent AcquisitionThe variety of ways that organizations can bring in talent domestically or internationally.
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft)
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft)Beginning with the 2022 First-Year Player Draft (or "MLB Rule 4 Draft"), the draft will be held over a three-day period between June 1st and July 20th.
NOTE: The draft will be held July 9-11 in 2023.
Beginning with the 2022 season and going forward, the draft will be twenty rounds.
Beginning with the 2023 draft:
1. Draft order for rounds #2 - #20 will be based upon the inverse order of winning percentages from the previous season. If the winning percentages of two or more clubs are the same, the club with the lowest winning percentage from the previous season picks first. If two or more clubs are still tied, league standings from two years back (or three years back, four years back, etc) are used to break the tie;
2. Draft order for the first six picks in the first round (only) will be determined by a weighted lottery similar to the one used the NBA. Only the 18 clubs that did not qualify for the post-season in the previous season are eligible to participate in the lottery.
NOTE: The 2023 MLB Rule 4 Draft draft lottery was held on 12/6 at the 2022 MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego. The Cubs fell back one slot and will pick 13th in the 1st round of the 2023 draft.
3. Draft order for the twelve clubs that did qualify for the post-season in the previous season will be determined by when the club was eliminated from contention in the post-season and that club's revenue-sharing and/or tax status, with the four Wild Card round losers selecting #19 - #22, the four LDS losers selecting #23 - #26, the two LCS losers selecting #27-#28, the World Series loser selecting #29, and the World Series winner selecting #30. Within the Wild Card losers, LDS losers, and LCS losers groups, draft order will be determined by whether the club received revenue sharing funds (higher pick), paid a Competitive Balance Tax (lower pick), or neither received revenue sharing funds nor paid a CBT (middle pick), with the tie-breaker the same as used in rounds #2 - #20.
Competitive Balance Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted in two groups (Competitive Balance Round "A" is slotted after the 1st Round, and Competitive Balance Round "B" is slotted between the 2nd and 3rd rounds).
NOTE: Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd round) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.
If an Article XX-B Qualified Player subsequently signs a Major League contract with another (different) MLB club prior to the MLB Rule 4 Draft (MLB First-Year Player Draft), the player's former club (the club that lost the Qualified Player) normally will receive a compensatory draft pick in the MLB Rule 4 Draft between the 2nd & 3rd rounds (after Competitive Balance Round "B").
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would receive a compensatory draft pick immediately after the conclusion of the 1st round (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") - IF - the Qualified Player signs a contract worth at least $50M (the club would receive a compensatory draft pick between the 2nd & 3rd rounds and after Competitive Balance Round "B" if the Qualified Player signs a contract worth less than $50M), and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would receive a draft pick between the 4th & 5th rounds.
NOTE: If more than one club receives the same type of compensatory pick, the draft order for the comp picks is the same as it is for all other rounds in that draft (clubs select in inverse order of league standings from the previous season, and in the case of two clubs finishing with the same record the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie, and if If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).
CUBS ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS POST-2022 (last updated 12-9-2022):
Willson Contreras, C
An MLB club that signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club forfeits its 2nd highest selection in the next MLB Rule 4 Draft and $500,000 is subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next full International Signing Period (ISP).
EXCEPTIONS: An MLB club that receives revenue sharing funds would surrender its 3rd highest selection in the draft but nothing is subtracted from the club's ISBP in the next full ISP, and an MLB club that is a CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 2nd & 5th selection in the draft and have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP.
NOTE: The Competitive Balance Tax threshold will be $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and $244M in 2026.
POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS SIGNED BY CUBS (last updated 12-21-2022):
Dansby Swanson, INF
The next highest Rule 4 Draft pick (or draft picks) will be forfeited if a club signs more than one Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club (one draft pick forfeited for each Qualified Player signed).
NOTE: A CBT payer (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the so-called "Luxury Tax") would forfeit its 3rd & 6th highest selections if the club signs a second Qualified Player, its 4th & 7th selections if the club signs a third Qualified Player, and its 8th & 9th highest selections, 10th & 11th highest selections, etc, for additional Qualified Players signed.
Draft picks subject to forfeiture include the club's own Rule 4 Draft picks, compensatory draft picks awarded to the club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player, and draft picks awarded as the result of the Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Pick lottery (including draft picks that were subsequently acquired in a trade). Competitive Balance draft picks (including Competitive Balance draft picks acquired in a trade) and a compensatory draft pick awarded to a club for failing to sign a pick from a previous Rule 4 Draft are - NOT - subject to forfeiture.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks were subject to forfeiture.
A Rule 4 Draft pick forfeited as the result of a club signing an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from his previous club is not transferred to any other club (it just disappears).
Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, any MLB club that had a payroll from the previous season that was $40M or more above the Competitive Balance Tax threshold will have its highest draft selection moved down ten slots, unless its first selection is among the top six picks in the draft, in which case it will have its second-highest draft slot moved down ten slots.
NOTE: In determining whether a club would have its highest or second-highest draft pick moved down ten slots, the six "protected" picks at the top of the 1st round would NOT include any compensation draft pick received by a club for failing to sign a 1st round draft pick from a previous draft -- these compensatory draft picks are already "protected."
If a rookie player with less than 60 days of MLB Service Time (0+060 MLB ST) coming into a season accrues a full season and wins the Rookie of the Year Award, or finishes top three in MVP or top three in Cy Young Award prior to becoming eligible for salary arbitration, the player's club will receive a bonus pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the draft.
NOTE: Only one bonus draft pick permitted for any one player.
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Eligibility
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) EligibilityAn individual is eligible for selection in the First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) if the person is at least 17 years old, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, and is either a resident of a U. S. state or territory or Canada and has been for at least one year, or is not a resident but was enrolled in a high school (known as "secondary school" in Canada) or college in a U. S. state or territory or Canada within the previous year, and...
1. Player has graduated from high school (or "secondary school") and has received a diploma (if the player graduates early and receives a diploma prior to turning 17, the player is eligible for selection if he turns 17 no later than 45 days after the draft and the player submits written notice of early graduation to the MLB Commissioner by January 15th);
2. The player's high school class has graduated (12th grade) and player has not yet graduated from high school but player's high school athletic eligibility has expired, or player dropped out of high school at least 365 days prior to the draft, or player attended a junior college the previous school year, or player is attending a four-year college and the school has no baseball program, or player is attending a four-year college and player has completed at least junior year of athletic eligibility, or player is attending a four-year college and is age 21 or older (or will turn 21 within 45 days of the draft), or player withdrew from a four-year college at least 120 days prior to the draft.
A player dismissed from a four-year college for academic reasons less than 120 days prior to the draft is eligible for selection only with the consent of the MLB Commissioner.
For purposes of draft eligibility, a GED is not considered a high school diploma.
NOTE: Prior to the 2017 draft, a GED was considered equivalent to a high school diploma for purposes of draft eligibility.
A club is not permitted to select a player in the Rule 4 Draft two years in a row, unless the player gives his approval in advance.
A high school player eligible for selection may elect (in advance) to have his name removed from draft eligibility in that particular Rule 4 Draft.
Prior to the draft, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 300 players in the draft, and offer each of the players an opportunity to furnish in advance of the draft access to the player's certified medical history available to be reviewed by all 30 MLB clubs. Players are not required to participate in the program, but if a player declines to participate, the player may not furnish medical records to any club or clubs prior to the draft.
From among the Top 300 players, the MLB Commissioner's office will designate what it considers to be the Top 50 pitchers in the draft, and offer each of the pitchers an opportunity to submit a recent certified MRI of the pitcher's shoulder, elbow, or any other part of the body that has received medical treatment during the course of the previous season, available for review by all 30 MLB clubs prior to the draft. Pitchers are not required to participate in the program.
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Negotiation List
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Negotiation List
FIRST-YEAR PLAYER DRAFT (MLB RULE 4 DTAFT ) - NEGOTIATION LIST
Players selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) are placed on a club's Negotiation List.
The signing deadline is 5 PM (Eastern) on August 1st or 14 days after the last day of the draft, whichever comes first (July 25th in 2023).
NOTE: The signing deadline cannot be on the same day as the MLB Trade Deadline.
A player selected in the Rule 4 Draft will be declared a free-agent if he is not offered a contract by the signing deadline.
In most cases, a player selected by a club in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until either the player signs or until the signing deadline (whichever comes first), and if a club does not sign a Rule 4 Draft pick by the deadline, the player is removed from the club's Negotiation List and becomes eligible for selection again in the next Rule 4 Draft in which the player would be eligible for selection.
A college senior with no eligibility left who is selected in the Rule 4 Draft will remain on the club's Negotiation List until the player signs or until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft.
If a player is selected in the Rule 4 Draft after the 10th round and enrolls in a junior college and remains enrolled for the entire school year, the player can be signed during a period of time beginning with the completion of the junior college's baseball season (including post-season) up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft.
NOTE: Called a "draft & follow," a club signing a previously-selected JC player prior to the next draft can offer a maximum bonus of $225,000, and the bonus does not count against the club's Rule 4 Signing Bonus Pool.
A player eligible for selection in the Rule 4 Draft who is not drafted ("Non-Drafted Free-Agent" or "NDFA") can sign with any club after the conclusion of the draft any time up until one week prior to the next Rule 4 Draft, unless and until the NDFA enrolls in a four-year college, in which case MLB Rule 4 Draft eligibility rules apply.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on July 12th, but clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA prior to or during the draft.
A player selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft or a Rule 4 eligible NDFA cannot be signed to a Major League contract.
A player who signs after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be traded until after the conclusion of the World Series (no earlier than 9 AM on the day after the final game of the World Series), or for 90 days if the player signs after the World Series.
NOTE: Previously, a player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft could not be traded until the first anniversary of the player signing his first contract.
A player signed after being selected in the MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) cannot be a PTBNL in any trade made prior to the conclusion of the World Series.
CUBS 2023 MLB RULE 4 NEGOTIATION LIST (Last updated 7-21-2023)
DRAFTED PLAYERS:
1. Matt Shaw, INF (U. of Maryland) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/16
2-COMP. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP (U. of Arkansas) - COLLEGE JR
3. Josh Rivera, SS (U. of Florida) - COLLEGE SR - SIGNED 7/19
4. Will Sanders, RHP (U.of South Carolina) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
5. Michael Carico, C (Davidson) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/16
6. Alfonsin Rosario, OF (P27 Academy - Lexington, SC) - HIGH SCHOOL - SIGNED 7/16
7. Yahil Melendez, SS (B You Academy - Caguas, PR) - HIGH SCHOOL - SIGNED 7/19
8. Brett Bateman, OF (U. of Minnesota) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/16
9. Jonathon Long, 1B (Long Beach State) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/16
10. Luis Martinez-Gomez, RHP (Temple CC) - JC SOPH - SIGNED 7/16
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11. Zyhir Hope, OF (Colonial Forge HS - Stafford, VA) - HIGH SCHOOL
12. Carter Trice, 2B-OF (North Carolina State) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
13. Sam Armstrong, RHP (Old Dominion) - COLLEGE SR
14. Grayson Moore, RHP (Vanderbilt)- COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
15. Ty Johnson, RHP (Ball State) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
16. Daniel Brown, LHP (Campbell) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
17. Ethan Flanagan, LHP (UCLA) - COLLEGE SOPH - SIGNED 7/19
18. Brian Kalmer, 3B (Gonzaga) - COLLEGE SR (REDSHIRT JR) - SIGNED 7/16
19. Nick Dean, RHP (U. of Maryland) - COLLEGE SR - SIGNED 7/19
20. Drew Bowser, 3B (Stanford) - COLLEGE JR - SIGNED 7/19
2023 NON-DRAFTED FREE-AGENTS (NDFA) SIGNED BY CUBS:
Kenten Egbert, RHP (Miami U.) - SIGNED 7/21
Landon Ginn, RHP (East Carolina) - SIGNED 7/21
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Signing Bonus Pool
First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) Signing Bonus PoolThere is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money that each club can pay as signing bonuses to players selected in a First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) before penalties begin to accrue.
Prior to the Rule 4 Draft, each MLB club is assigned a “Signing Bonus Pool” (SBP) equal to the aggregate pre-assigned bonus value of all of the club’s draft slots in the first ten rounds (including supplemental & compensatory draft picks). The higher the slot, the higher the bonus value. (The collective MLB SBP is determined in advance by calculating industry revenues).
The Cubs 2023 Rule 4 Draft SBP is $8,962,000 (was $10,092,700 in 2022)
If a club fails to sign a player selected in the first ten rounds (including supplemental draft picks), the value of that slot is deducted from the club’s SBP.
There is no bonus value assigned to draft slots after the 10th round, but if a club pays a signing bonus in excess of $150,000 to a player selected in the 11th round or later or to a player eligible for selection who was not drafted, the amount of that bonus in excess of $150,000 is deducted from the club’s SBP.
NOTE: A player eligible for selection in the MLB First-Year Player Draft who is not selected can be signed by any MLB club as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) beginning at 9 AM (Eastern) on the day after the final day of the draft. However, clubs are not permitted to discuss with a draft-eligible player the possibility of signing the player as a NDFA anytime prior to 9 AM on the day after the final day of the draft.
If a club exceeds its SBP in a given Rule 4 Draft, a tax will be assessed and future Rule 4 Draft picks could be forfeited, depending on how much the club exceeded its SBP. (The club’s 1st Round draft pick in the next Rule 4 Draft is forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 5-10%, its 1st & 2nd round draft picks in the next Rule 4 Draft are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by 10-15%, and the club’s 1st Round picks in the next two Rule 4 Drafts are forfeited if the club exceeds its SBP by more than 15%).
Money collected from the tax on clubs that exceed their SBP will be distributed to qualifying clubs as Revenue Sharing funds, and forfeited draft picks will be reassigned by lottery. (Any club that exceeds its SBP is excluded from the lottery).
Rule 4 Compensation Draft Picks
Rule 4 Compensation Draft PicksMLB RULE 4 DRAFT COMPENSATION DRAFT PICK
A Rule 4 Draft compensation pick is awarded to a club if the club is unable to sign a player selected in one of the first three rounds of the MLB Rule 4 Draft (including compensation draft picks between rounds 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4, Competitive Balance draft picks, draft picks awarded to a club after the club loses an Article XX-B MLB Free-Agent Qualified Player, and draft picks assigned to clubs from the SBP forfeited draft pick lottery).
A club must offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign.
EXCEPTION: A club is required to offer a drafted player at least 40% of the slot value in order to be eligible to receive a compensation draft pick if the player does not sign - UNLESS - the drafted player is one of the Top 50 pitchers designated by the MLB Commissioner's office prior to the draft and the pitcher declined to submit an MRI
If a player selected prior to the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season.
If a player selected in the 3rd round of the draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection after the 3rd round in the next Rule 4 Draft, with clubs selecting in inverse order of league standings from the previous season. (In the case of two clubs finishing with the same winning percentage the previous season, league standings from two seasons back will be used to break the tie. If the clubs are still tied, league standings from three seasons back, four seasons back, etc, will be used to break the tie).
NOTE: In 2020 (only), if a player selected in the 3rd round of the Rule 4 Draft does not sign, the club receives an extra compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season rather than after the conclusion of the 3rd round. .
A club would receive another compensation pick in the next Rule 4 Draft after that if a player selected with an extra compensation pick does not sign (same slot as the extra compensation draft pick for a player not signed after being selected prior to the 3rd round, and between the 3rd round compensation picks and the 4th round for a compensation draft pick not signed after being selected after the 3rd round), but there is no additional compensation pick awarded the following season (three years removed from the original draft pick) if a club is unable to sign that player.
A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after the club is unable to sign a player selected in a previous draft is NOT subject to forfeiture if that club signs an Article XX-B player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another club.
ARTICLE XX-B FREE-AGENT / QUALIFYING OFFER COMPENSATION DRAFT PICK
A club will receive a compensation draft pick if another MLB club signs an Article XX-B free-agent prior to the next Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) if the club extended a Qualifying Offer to the player and the player declined the offer.
Beginning with the 2018 MLB Rule 4 Draft, Article XX-B Qualified Player Compensation draft picks will be slotted between the 2nd & 3rd round of the draft (immediately after Competitive Balance Round "B"), between Rounds 1 & 2 (prior to Competitive Balance Round "A") for any club receiving revenue sharing funds that loses a Qualified Player who signs a major league contract worth more than $50M, and between rounds 4 & 5 for Competitive Balance Tax payers (club's payroll exceeds the so-called "Luxury Tax").
If a player selected with a draft pick awarded as the result of a club losing a Qualified Player does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.
A compensation draft pick awarded to a club after losing an Article XX-B Qualified Player to another club is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club.
PROSPECT PROMOTION INITIATIVE (PPI) COMPENSATION DRAFT PICK
Beginning with the 2022 season, a PPI player is any player in an MLB club's organization who enters a season with rookie status and having accrued no more than sixty days of MLB Service Time and who is rated as a pre-season Top 100 minor league prospect by Baseball America, ESPN, and/or mlb.com Pipeline (at least two of the three), and then accrues a full year of MLB Service Time in his rookie season. Once a player receives PPI designation, he retains that designation going forward until he is traded or becomes eligible for salary arbitration (whichever comes first).
EXCEPTIONS: A "Foreign Professional" player (at least 25 years old and has spent all or part of at least six seasons in a recognized foreign professional "major" league), or a player who signs a multi-year major league contract prior to making his MLB debut, or a player who signs a multi-year contract extension after his MLB debut that buys-out his first year of salary arbitration eligibility, cannot be designated a PPI player.
2023 CUBS POTENTIAL PPI PLAYERS:
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF
Brennen Davis, OF
Kevin Alcantara, OF
An MLB club will receive a compensation draft pick between the first and second round of the next MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) if a PPI player wins the Rookie of the Year Award, and/or finishes in the top three in MVP and/or Cy Young Award voting prior to becoming eligible for salary arbitration.
1. A club can receive no more than one PPI compensation pick in any one draft, even if more than one of its PPI players wins the Rookie of the Year and/or finishes in the top three in MVP and/or Cy Young Award voting;
2. The same PPI player can generate a compensation draft pick in as many as three different drafts, as long as the player is not traded and/or has not yet qualified for salary arbitration.
If a player selected with a PPI compensation draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with that compensation draft pick does not sign.
A PPI compensation draft pick is subject to forfeiture if that club signs a player who was extended a Qualifying Offer from another MLB club prior to the Rule 4 Draft.
If a PPI player is traded prior to qualifying for salary arbitration, the player is no longer is designated a PPI player, and so he cannot generate a compensation draft pick for his new club.
Rule 4 Competitive Balance Draft Picks
Rule 4 Competitive Balance Draft Picks"Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks are slotted between the 1st and 2nd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "A") and between the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Competitive Balance Round "B").
Beginning with the 2017 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be awarded by lottery. Rather, all clubs who qualify (the ten smallest market clubs and the ten lowest revenue clubs, some of which are the same club) will receive Competitive Balance draft picks in either Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) or in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds), with each club alternating between the two rounds every-other year.
Beginning with the 2018 Rule 4 Draft, Competitive Balance draft picks will no longer be subject to forfeiture by clubs signing a Qualified Player.
A Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only during a period of time starting on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft). The slot cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft slot can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the slot cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
NOTE: 2020 and 2021 Rule 4 Competitive Balance draft picks cannot be traded beginning on March 28, 2020, and extending through the conclusion of the 2021 draft.
If a player selected with a Competitive Balance draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign.
Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft Picks
Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft PicksA Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft pick that is forfeited because a club exceeded its Rule 4 Draft Signing Bonus Pool limit will be reassigned to another club by lottery to be held on the Wednesday following the MLB Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. All MLB clubs that have not exceeded its SBP limit as of that point in time are eligible to participate in this lottery.
As with Competitive Balance draft picks, Rule 4 SBP Forfeited draft picks can be traded, but only during a period of time beginning on December 2nd and extending up until two hours prior to the MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Rule 4 forfeited draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club.
If a club that is awarded a Rule 4 SBP Forfeited Draft pick subsequently exceeds its SBP, the pick will be forfeited and another lottery will be held (date and time TBA by the MLB Commissioner) to allocate the pick to another club.
If a club trades a Rule 4 Forfeited Draft pick to another club, it cannot subsequently sign a player subject to the club's Rule 4 SBP if signing the player causes the club to exceed its SBP.
If a player selected with a Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower than the forfeited draft pick slot from the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a compensation Rule 4 Draft SBP forfeited draft pick does not sign.
International First-Year Players - Eligibility & Restrictions
International First-Year Players - Eligibility & RestrictionsThe "International Signing Period" extends from January 15th through December 15th. No international player can be signed during the period of time extending from December 16th through January 14th.
NOTE: Prior to the 2021 ISP, the ISP began on July 2nd and extended through June 15th of the following year, but the 2019-20 ISP (only) was extended until 5 PM (Eastern) on October 15, 2020, and no international player could be signed during the period of time beginning at 5 PM Eastern on October 15, 2020, through January 14, 2021.
Any individual who is age 16 or older, has not previously signed an MLB or minor league contract, resides outside the U. S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has not been enrolled in a high school or college in the U. S., Canada, or Puerto Rico within the previous year, can be signed during the ISP. Also, any individual age 15 who turns 16 prior to September 1st is eligible to sign beginning on the date he turns 16 up through August 31st.
International Signing Bonus Pool
International Signing Bonus PoolINTERNATIONAL SIGNING BONUS POOL
There is a maximum limit on the aggregate amount of money each MLB club can pay as signing bonuses to international first-year players.
1. Each MLB club is assigned an "International Signing Bonus Pool" (ISBP) prior to the start of the International Signing Period (ISP).
NOTE: The Cubs 2023 ISBP is $5,284,000 (it was $5,179,700 in 2022).
2023 ISP:
$6,366,000 for an MLB club that has a selection in Competitive Balance Round "B" (between the 2nd & 3rd rounds) of the MLB Rule 4 Draft;
$5,825,500 for an MLB club that has a selection in Competitive Balance Round "A" (between the 1st & 2nd rounds) of the MLB Rule 4 Draft;
$5,284,000 for an MLB club that does not receive Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) revenue sharing (this group includes the Cubs);
$4,644,000 for an MLB club that does not receive CBT revenue sharing that signed a post-2021 Article XX-B Qualified Player to a 2022 MLB contract;
$4,144,000 for an MLB club that is a CBT payor that signed a post-2021 Article XX-B Qualified Player to a 2022 MLB contract.
NOTE: Even though they were not a 2022 CBT payor, the Texas Rangers 2023 ISBP is $4,144,000 because they signed two post-2021 Article XX-B Qualified Players to 2022 MLB contracts.
2. Any signing bonus of $10,000 or less does not count toward a club's ISBP limit.
3. An MLB club (excluding clubs that receive CBT revenue sharing and MLB Rule 4 Competitive Balance draft picks) that signs an Article XX-B Qualified Player (not including its own Qualified Players) will have $500,000 subtracted from its assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in the next International Signing Period (ISP) for each Qualified Player signed, and an MLB club that is a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) payor (club's payroll from the previous season exceeded the CBT threshold) would have $1,000,000 subtracted from its ISBP in the next ISP for each Qualified Player signed. (The Competitive Balance Tax threshold is $230M in 2022, $233M in 2023, $237M in 2024, $241M in 2025, and will be $244M in 2026). So if the Cubs sign an Article XX-B Qualified Player post-2022, $500K will be subtracted from their ISBP in the 2024 ISP.
POST-2022 ARTICLE XX-B QUALIFIED PLAYERS SIGNED BY CUBS (last updated 12-21-2022):
Dansby Swanson, INF
4. A club can carry-over up to $400K in ISBP space from one ISP to the next ISP if a contract or contracts signed by a player or players is/are voided after the conclusion of the ISP during which the contract or contracts was/were signed. The amount of ISBP space carried-over from the previous ISP must match the amount of ISBP space that was deducted from the club's ISBP after the player or players signed their contracts. If the amount of ISBP space deducted exceeded $400K, the amount of ISBP space in excess of $400K that is carried-over to the next ISP will be divided up into 29 equal amounts and added to the ISBP of the other 29 MLB clubs.
NOTE: A club's right to carry-over ISBP space from one ISP to the next ISP only applies to contracts that are voided as the result of the player failing his physical or being unable to obtain a visa to the U. S. or if an investigation by the MLB Commissioner determines the player falsified his age and/or identity prior to signing the contract. It does not apply to contracts voided by the MLB Commissioner as a result of a rules violation by the club.
6. The MLB Commissioner can order a club to forfeit up to 50% of its assigned ISBP from one or more ISP and/or one or more player contract(s) can be voided if it is determined that a club and/or a player or players attempted to circumvent the international signing bonus rules.
ISBP RESTRICTIONS/EXCEPTIONS
1. A international first-year player subject to ISBP restrictions cannot be signed to a Major League contract.
2. A player age 25 or older who has spent all or part of at least six seasons playing in an MLB-recognized foreign professional or "major" league is considered to be a "Foreign Professional" player. A "Foreign Professional" is not subject to ISBP international first-year player restrictions and can sign a Major League or minor league contract with any MLB organization without restriction. A signing bonus paid to a "Foreign Professional" does - NOT - count against the club’s ISBP.
NOTE: Beginning with the 2018-19 ISP, any "Foreign Professional" player under contract to a Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican League) club can sign a Major League or minor league contract with any MLB organization after the conclusion of the LMB season (including post-season), or (with consent of the player's LMB club) during the LMB season. If an MLB club signs an LMB player with "Foreign Professional" player status, the MLB club must pay the LMB club a one-time release fee equal to 15% of the total value of the contract if the player signs a Major League contract or 35% of the total value of the contract if the player signs a minor league contract. No release fee would be paid by the MLB club if the player's contract has expired or if the contract had been terminated by the LMB club prior to the MLB club offering a contract to the player.
3. A player under contract to a Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican League) club who has not yet reached "Foreign Professional" player status may sign a minor league contract with an MLB organization - IF - the LMB club agrees to release the player so that he can sign with the MLB club. The Mexican League club would receive a one-time release fee equal to 35% of the total value of the contract (by rule an international player who is not yet a "Foreign Professional" cannot sign a Major League contract). The release fee paid by an MLB club to an LMB club does - NOT - count against the MLB club's ISBP.
NOTE: Prior to the 2018-19 ISP, up to 75% of a signing bonus paid to a Mexican League player (or a player under contractual control of an LMB club) who had not yet reached "Foreign Professional" player status did not count against the MLB club's ISBP if the signing bonus was paid to the Mexican League club and not directly to the player and the player received no more than 25% of the signing bonus from the Mexican League club.
TRADING/ACQUIRING ISBP SPACE:
Trading ISBP space was prohibited in both the 2021 and 2022 ISP.
BEGINNING IN 2023:
An MLB club can trade up to 100% of its ISBP, and a club can acquire up to 60% of its assigned ISBP via trade or trades.
While up to 100% of a club's originally-assigned ISBP (plus up to an additional 60% of the club's originally-assigned ISBP that might be acquired in a trade or trades) can be traded, there are some restrictions:
1. A club's ISBP (or a portion of it) can only be traded during the International Signing Period (ISP) to which the ISBP was assigned (January 15th through December 15th);
2. A club can trade ISBP space only in increments of $250K (including multiples of $250K) unless the club was trading all of its remaining ISBP in one transaction.
3. A club's ISBP (or a portion of it) cannot be sold for cash. However, cash can be exchanged if it is used to offset the salary or salaries of a player or players acquired in return for the SBV;
4. A club's ISBP (or a portion of it) cannot be substituted for a "Player to Be Named Later" (PTBNL);
5. Another club's ISBP (or a portion of it) acquired in a trade CAN be traded ("flipped") to a third club.
Player Posting - NPB & KBO
Player Posting - NPB & KBONIPPON PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL (JAPAN):
There are two Japanese "major" leagues, the Pacific League and the Central League, with each league consisting of six teams. Together the two leagues are known as "Nippon Professional Baseball" (or "NPB").
Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all NPB players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") for nine seasons. After the 9th season, the player becomes an unrestricted free-gent.
1. An NPB player who is not under the control of an NPB club can sign with any MLB club.
2. With the consent of the NPB club, an NPB player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, an NPB player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a 35-day period extending from November 1st through December 5th.
3. The NPB club decides in advance on the amount of the release fee it will be paid if the player signs with an MLB club (it can be any amount up to $20M), and all MLB clubs are notified of the posting by the MLB Commissioner.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, the release fee for NPB posted players will be:
MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: If the guaranteed value of the contract is $25M or less the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract, if the guaranteed value of the contract is $50M or less but more than $25M the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract up through the first $25M and 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for any amount above $25M, and if the guaranteed value of the contract is more than $50M the release fee will be 20% of the of the guaranteed value of the contract for the first $25M, 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for the second $25M, and 15% of the guaranteed value of the contract above $50M. In addition, the MLB club must pay 15% of the value of any bonus earned, salary escalator, and/or option exercised over the length of the contract.
MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: The release fee is 25% of the signing bonus, and the MLB club must pay a supplemental fee if the player is subsequently added to the club's MLB reserve list (40-man roster) and is tendered a Major League contract (see "MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT" above).
4. Any MLB club willing to pay the release fee can negotiate with the NPB player during a 45-day period starting on the day after the player is posted.
NOTE: Prior to the post-2022 off-season, the negotiation period was 30 days.
5. If an MLB club signs a posted NPB player, the NPB club receives the designated release fee from that MLB club. The release fee can be paid in installments over an 18-month period, with the MLB club required to pay 50% of the release fee within 14 days of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within six months of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within 12 months of the submission of the posted player's contract, and 16% of the release fee within 18 months of the submission of the posted player's contract. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).
6. If a posted NPB player does not sign with an MLB club within 45 days after being posted, the NPB club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).
KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION (SOUTH KOREA):
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is the South Korean "major" league. With a new club beginning play in 2015, there are now ten teams in the KBO.
Unless the player is released or signed by an MLB club after being posted, all KBO players remain under club control (the player is "reserved") until the player's contract has expired.
1. A KBO player who is not under the control of a KBO club can sign with any MLB club.
2. With the consent of the KBO club, a KBO player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a three-month period extending from November 1st to February 1st.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, a KBO player who is under club control can be "posted" (made available to be signed by an MLB club) anytime during a 35-day period extending from November 1st through December 5th.
3. If a KBO club decides to post a player, the KBO club advises the MLB Commissioner of the posting, and then the MLB Commissioner notifies all MLB clubs. Once the posting notification is transmitted, MLB clubs have four days to decide whether to submit a bid. The bid is what the MLB club is willing to pay to the KBO club as a "release fee" if the MLB club signs the posted KBO player.
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, the release fee for KBO posted players will be:
MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: If the guaranteed value of the contract is $25M or less the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract, if the guaranteed value of the contract is $50M or less but more than $25M the release fee will be 20% of the guaranteed value of the contract up through the first $25M and 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for any amount above $25M, and if the guaranteed value of the contract is more than $50M the release fee will be 20% of the of the guaranteed value of the contract for the first $25M, 17.5% of the guaranteed value of the contract for the second $25M, and 15% of the guaranteed value of the contract above $50M. In addition, the MLB club must pay 15% of the value of any bonus earned, salary escalator, and/or option exercised over the length of the contract.
MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT: The release fee is 25% of the signing bonus, and the MLB club must pay a supplemental fee if the player is subsequently added to the club's MLB reserve list (40-man roster) and is tendered a Major League contract (see "MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT" above).
4. The bidding closes at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 4th day following the posting notification. Any interested MLB club may submit a sealed (secret) bid to the MLB Commissioner prior to the deadline. There is no limit on the amount an MLB club may bid. Once the deadline has passed, the MLB Commissioner advises the KBO club if any bids were received, and if so, the amount of the winning bid, but not the identity of the club that submitted it. The KBO club then has three days to decide whether to accept the winning bid. If the KBO club accepts the bid, the MLB club that submitted the highest bid is awarded exclusive negotiation rights to the posted KBO player, but beginning with the post-2022 off-season, the club can negotiate with the player for no more than 45 days (was 30 days post-2018 off-season through post-2021 off-season).
NOTE: Prior to the post-2018 off-season, - ANY - MLB club willing to pay the release fee could negotiate with the KBO player during a 30-day period starting on the day after the player was posted.
5. If an MLB club signs a posted KBO player within the 45-day "window," the KBO club receives the release fee from that MLB club. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).
NOTE: Beginning with the post-2018 off-season, if an MLB club signs a posted KBO player, the KBO club receives the designated release fee from that MLB club. The release fee can be paid in installments over an 18-month period, with the MLB club required to pay 50% of the release fee within 14 days of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within six months of the submission of the posted player's contract, 17% of the release fee within 12 months of the submission of the posted player's contract, and 16% of the release fee within 18 months of the submission of the posted player's contract. (The release fee is not considered when calculating the MLB club's payroll).
6. If a KBO player does not sign with an MLB club within 45 days after being posted, the KBO club does not receive the release fee, and the player cannot be posted again until the next November 1st (unless he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the meantime).