Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has another update on the draft bonus pools, noting that the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a draft bonus pool of $9,270,800 in 2012. The Pirates already have one compensation pick for losing Ryan Doumit, and could get another one for Derrek Lee. It’s unknown if the bonus amount Mayo listed includes the slot price for the Doumit pick and the potential slot price for Lee’s pick. That would be very unlikely since those picks aren’t set.
The Pirates spent $17 M in 2011 and $11.3 M in 2010. They were at $9.8 M in 2008 and $8.9 M in 2009. It’s looking like they will be able to sign over-slot talent, although it doesn’t seem like there will be any chances of getting a Josh Bell or a Stetson Allie in the second round.
UPDATE: Charlie followed up with Jonathan Mayo, who mentions that the $9.3 M figure isn’t the 2012 figure. The figure is what the Pirates would have had in 2009, under the 2012 rules. So we’re back to not knowing what the draft pool will be.
