The Los Angeles Dodgers have fared well in regards to signing their picks from the 2016 MLB Draft well in advance of the July 15 deadline to do so. Thus far, the club has announced the signing of 25 of their 42 selections.
Included in that group is the Dodgers’ first pick, shortstop Gavin Lux, who was selected No. 20 overall. Lux reportedly received a $2.317 million signing bonus, which is only $700 more than slot value.
Also among those in the fold is Will Smith, the No. 32 overall selection in the 2016 Draft. He is said to have signed for $1.775 million, which is below slot value.
This year the Dodgers have a bonus pool of $9,336,500 to spend, which is the most the club has had since 2012. However, they can exceed that total by 4.99 percent or less, and only face a tax penalty on the overage.
Exceeding the allotted bonus by five percent or more comes with the tax penalty and forfeiting of future draft picks, with penalty and total number of picks lost broken into tiers.
According to Jim Callis of MLB.com, the Dodgers have also inked junior college left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer, who their fifth-round selection:
5th-rder Devin Smeltzer signs w/@Dodgers, $500k (pick 161 = $331,100). San Jac LHP, 20 K in JCWS game, best pitch is crossfire SL @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 23, 2016
Smeltzer pitched for San Jacinto Junior College North in Texas, where he went 9-3 with a 1.18 ERA in 91.2 innings this year. Smeltzer had an eye-opening game a couple of weeks ago when he struck out 20 while throwing 140 pitches in a semifinal win at the National Junior College World Series.
It has also been reported that the Dodgers have signed 11th-rounder A.J. Alexy:
11th-rder A.J. Alexy signs w/@Dodgers for $600k ($497,500 vs slot). PA HS RHP, projectable three-pitch guy, 88-92 FB now. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 22, 2016
Alexy played for Twin Valley High School in Everson, Penn., this past season. Most notably, the right-hander threw 164 pitches in a game this past May, which made national news. The Dodgers’ success in signing their top picks appears to have extended to Jordan Sheffield, who reportedly signed for just over slot value:
Supp 1st-rder Jordan Sheffield inks w/@Dodgers, $1.85 mil (pick 36 = $1,791,000). Vandy RHP, could be 3 plus pitches, Stroman comp @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 25, 2016
Sheffield was taken during the Competitive Balance Round A, a pick the Dodgers received for failing to sign Kyle Funkhouser, who was the No. 35 overall pick in the 2015 Draft. The Dodgers have not yet announced the signing of Sheffield.
