Editorials

Dodgers Top Draft Picks Remain Unsigned With Deadline Looming

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

The Major League Baseball draft is a long and strenuous process. In fact, the Los Angeles Dodgers are finding that out personally during this week. All Major League teams have until Friday to sign their draft picks, with a lot of unsigned players trying to figure their situation out.

The Dodgers first-round pick Walker Buehler was a standout pitcher at the University of Vanderbilt. The right-handed pitcher excelled during the College World Series during Vanderbilt’s trip to the Finals. Although the team did lose to the University of Virginia, Buehler delivered performances that were noteworthy.



The number 24 overall pick threw 6.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing four hits and a walk to lead his team to the finals in a game against TCU. The 20-year-old has drawn comparisons to Zack Greinke, with their slender figures and athleticism.

The main concern for the Dodgers is in the numbers. The team needs to figure out a method in which they can sign their remaining players without passing the team’s bonus pool cap by more than five percent. If the team were to pass the threshold, they would incur a 75 percent tax on the overage and would lose their first two picks in the following year’s draft.

The team had a total of $7.7 million available for their first ten picks. The team has roughly $4.3 million left to sign the three players they have remaining. Joining Buehler as unsigned picks are right-handed pitcher Kyle Funkhouser and first baseman Edwin Rios. Funkhouser may be the most difficult to sign for the Dodgers, seeing how his agent is tough negotiator Scott Boras.

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