Major League Baseball announced the Competitive Balance picks on Thursday afternoon and the Pittsburgh Pirates received the 31st overall pick in the 2018 draft. That is the highest pick given out this year. The Pirates were guaranteed a high pick this year due to having a Comp Round B pick last year, which ended up being the 72nd overall pick. MLB no longer uses a lottery system to determine picks and the teams eligible for Competitive Balance picks alternate between Round A and Round B each year.
The Pirates already had the tenth overall pick in the draft this upcoming year due to their record during the 2017 season. That pick is guaranteed to stay at the tenth spot. The 31st overall pick could change however, based on what happens with free agents who signed qualifying offers. MLB Pipeline broke down the scenarios here and which free agents could affect the pick’s spot.
While the draft bonus slots won’t be announced for awhile, the 2017 amounts could serve as a guide for the approximate amount the Pirates will get for these two picks. The tenth overall pick in 2017 had a $4,376,800 price tag, while the 31st overall pick was worth $2,134,900.