Elliott: Some Jays bonus babies stay, many move elsewhere
Austin Martin received the largest signing bonus ever in Toronto Blue Jays history … and was moved to the Minnesota Twins as the key in the package to obtain Jose Berrios.
April 19, 2022
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
When I first began covering baseball, I recall asking Montreal Expos president John McHale where he got his players from.
He had five areas for player acquisition:
_ Major league free agency, which is the glitzy glamorous area of additions. Some deals make such a splash they can crash through the ice in Lake Ontario.
_ The Rule V draft which allows one team to grab an unprotected player from the non 40-man rosters.
_ Free-agent signs from Latin America.
_ The draft, which he said was the most important and the best way to re-fresh and replenish its farm system.
_ Or trade.
No matter who ran the Blue Jays -- Pat Gillick, Gord Ash, J.P. Ricciardi, Alex Anthopoulos or Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins -- there has never been a fear of moving drafted players, no matter the bonus, no matter the round.
In franchise history the Jays have drafted and signed 176 players who received a $200,000 bonus or more, totaling $165,390,705 US, starting with first rounder INF-OF Austin Martin, who was given $7,000,825 as the fifth overall pick in North America in 2020 and was dealt a year later to the Minnesota Twins as part of the deal for Jose Berrios.
Of the 176 players exactly 100 (56.8%) have wound up elsewhere. Those who stayed range from RHP Alek Manoah and INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), to 3B Christian Williams and CF Chavez Young.
The Jays have moved four of their top 10 signing bonuses -- and nine of their top 20 -- handed out over the years.
In all, 38 former first-rounders have been moved from RHP Gunnar Hoglund (2021) and Martin to OFs Shannon Stewart and Todd Steverson (both in 1992).
The Jays had an 13-year streak of their first pick making the majors under scouting directors Bob Engle and Tim Wilken starting with RHP Alex Sanchez in 1987 followed by 3B Ed Sprague, SS Eddie Zosky, RHP Steve Karsay, OF Shawn Green, OF Shannon Stewart, RHP Chris Carpenter, INF Kevin Witt, RHP Roy Halladay, RP Billy Koch, OF Vernon Wells, INF Felipe Lopez and OF Alex Rios in 1999.
Another streak went six seasons beginning in 2001 with OF Gabe Gross, INF Russ Adams, INF Aaron Hill, LHP David Purcey, LHP Ricky Romero and OF Travis Snider in 2006.
T.J. Zeuch and Alek Manoh are the only two top Toronto selections of the respective drafts to break in with the Jays since Chad Jenkins in 2009.
In fairness we have zero idea whether moving this much money is high, low or middle of the pack compared to the other 29 times.
Top dollars in Blue Jays signing bonuses
(Includes year, round drafted (over-all pick) and free-agents (FA).
X-INF-OF Austin Martin 2020 1st (5th) $7,000,825 US
RHP Alek Manoah 2019 1st (11th) $4,547,500.
X-SS Adeiny Hechavarria 2010 (FA) $4 M
INF Vlad Guerrero, 2015 (FA) $3.9 M
INF Jordan Groshans, 2018 1st (12th) $3.4 M
X-RHP Gunnar Hoglund 2021 1st (19th) $3,247,500
X-RHP Jeff Hoffman 2014 1st (9th) $3,080,800
C Max Pentecost 2014 1st (11th) $2,888,300
SS Logan Warmoth 2017 1st (22nd) $2,820,200
RHP Adonys Cardona 2010 (FA) $2.8 M
Nate Pearson was a first rounder in 2017.
RHP Nate Pearson, 2017 1st (28th) $2,452,900
RHP Adam Kloffenstein, 2018 3rd (88th) $2.45
SS Manuel Beltre 2021 (FA) $2.4 million
LHP Ricky Romero 2005 1st (6th) $2.4 M
X-RHP T.J. Zeuch 2016 1st (21st) $2.175 M
X-SS Felipe Lopez 1998 1st (8th) $2 M
X-RHP Deck McGuire 2010 1st (11th) $2 M
X-LHP Daniel Norris, 2011 2nd (74th) $2 M
X-LHP Matt Smoral, 2012 1st (50th) $2 M
RHP Jon Harris, 2015 1st (29nd) $1,944,800
OF Gabe Gross was a Torontok Blue Jays first-round selection in 2001
X-OF Gabe Gross 2001 1st (17th) $1.865 M
X-RHP Marcus Stroman, 2012 1st (22nd) $1.8 M
RHP C.J. Van Eyk 2020 2nd $1,797,500
X-SS Russ Adams 2002 1st (14th) $1.785 M
OF D.J. Davis 2012 1st (17th) $1.75 M
X-OF Travis Snider 2006 1st (14th) $1.7 M
X-SS Aaron Hill 2003 1st (13th) $1.675 M
X-RHP Kevin Comer 2011 1st (57th) $1.65 M
X-OF Vernon Wells 1997 1st (5th) $1.6 M
LHP David Purcey 2004 1st (16th) $1.6 M
Saying no to Vanderbilt, RHP Kendall Williams was signed in the second round in 2019.
X-RHP Kendall Williams 2019 2nd (52nd) $1,547,500
X-1B David Cooper 2008 1st (18th) $1.5 M
C Hagen Danner, 2017 2nd (61st) $1.5 M
X-SS Dickie Joe Thon 2010 5th (156th) $1.5 M
X-RHP Roberto Osuna 2011 (FA) $1.5 M
X-RHP Billy Koch 1996 1st (4th) $1.45 M
X-3B Kevin Ahrens 2007 1st (16th) $1,440,000
RHP Eric Pardinho 2017 (FA) $1.4 million
RHP Chad Jenkins 2009 1st (20th) $1.359 M
X-OF Griffin Conine, 2018 2nd (52nd) $1.35 M
Another first-round choice was C J.P. Arencibia in 2007
X-C J.P. Arencibia 2007 1st (21st) $1.3275 M
X-OF Wuilmer Becerra 2011 (FA) $1.3 M
X-INF Dawel Lugo 2011 (FA) $1.3 M
X-3B Balbino Fuenmayor 2006 (FA) $1.2
X-RHP Sean Reid-Foley 2014 2nd (49th) $1,128,800
INF Bo Bichette 2016 2nd (66th) $1.1 M
X-LHP Zach Jackson 2004 1st (32nd) $1.017 M
X-OF Jake Marisnick 2009 3rd (104th) $1 M
X-3B Mitch Nay 2012 1st (58th) $1 M
OF Jacob Anderson 2011 1st (35th) $990,000
Second rounder from 2016 … OF J.B. Woodman
X-OF J.B. Woodman 2016 2nd (57th) $975,000
X-OF Miguel Negron 2000 1st (18th) $950,000
X-RHP Dustin McGowan 2000 1st (33rd) $950,000
X-SS Joe Lawrence 1996 1st (16th) $907,500
X-RHP Roy Halladay 1995 1st (17th) $895,000
X-RHP Chase De Jong 2012 2nd (81st) $860,000
X-Rowdy Tellez 2013 40th (895th) $850,000
RHP Irv Carter 2021 5th (152nd) $847,500
RHP Trent Palmer 3rd (77th) $847,500
X-OF Alexis Rios 1999 1st (19th) $845,000
First rounder RHP Asher Wojciechowski from 2010
X-RHP Asher Wojciechowski 2010 1st (41st) $815,400
X-LHP Brett Cecil 2007 1st (38th) $810,000
LHP Griffin Murphy 2010 2nd (61st) $800,000
X-C Guillermo Quiroz, 1998 FA $800,000
X-RHP Peter Bauer 2000 2nd (45th) $800,000
X-OF Dwight Smith 2011 1st (53rd) $800,000
X-SS Christian Lopes 2011 7th (229th) $800,000
OF Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) 2019 3rd (88th) $797,500
X-RHP Aaron Sanchez 2010 1st (34th) $775,000
SS Joesphang Bernhardt 1997 FA $770,000
Third rounder OF Anthony Alford from the 2012 draft.
X-OF Anthony Alford 2012 3rd (17th) $750,000
RHP Tyler Gonzales 2012 1st (60th) $750,000
X-OF Lane Thomas 2014 5th (144th) $750,000
SS Miguel Hiraldo, 2017 FA $750,000.
3B Matt Dean 2011 13th (409th) $737,500
X-OF Shawn Green 1991 1st (16th) $725,000
LHP Diegomar Markwell 1996 FA $705,000
X-RHP Jose Pett 1992 (FA) $700,000
INF Gabriel Cenas 2011 (FA) $700,000
OF Jesus Gonzalez 2011 (FA) $700,000
A 12th rounder in 2013 Jake Brentz was selected as an an OF, converted to the mound and dealt in the Mark Lowe deal of 2015.
X-OF Jake Brentz 2013 12th (325th) $700,000
X-SS Justin Jackson 2007 1st (45th) $675,000
X-LHP Nick Wells 2014 3rd (83) $662,800
X-RHP Brandon League 2001 2nd (59th) $660,000
X-RHP Josh Banks 2003 2nd (50th) $650,000
LHP Ricky Tiedemann 2021 3rd (91st) $644,800
X-OF Kenny Wilson 2008 2nd (63rd) $644,000
C Curtis Thigpen 2004 2nd (57th) $625,000
X-LHP Justin Nicolino 2010 2nd (80th) $615,000
X-2B Dominic Rich 2000 2nd (58th) $600,000
X-RHP Noah Syndergaard 2010 1st (38th) $600,000
3B Kellen Sweeney 2010 2nd (69th) $600,000
X-RP Sam Dyson 2010 4th (126th) $600,000
RHP Mark Biggs 2011 8th (259th) $600,000
X-RHP Chris Carpenter 1993 1st (15th) $580,000
He said he wouldn’t sign if drafted — but Pat Gillick learned from Bo Jackson that people change their mind — so John Olerud was a third rounder in 1989 Photo: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire.
X-1B John Olerud 1989 3rd (79th) $575,000
RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski 2011 2nd (78th) $575,000
X-C Riley Adams 2017 3rd (99th) $542,400
X-1B K.C. Hobson 2009 6th (190th) $500,000
X-RHP Joe Musgrove 2011 1st (46th) $500,000
RHP John Stilson 2011 3rd (108th) $500,000
RHP Manuel Cordova 2011 (FA) $500,000
X-C Patrick Murphy 2013 3rd (83rd) $500,000
CF Reggie Pruitt 2015 24th (722nd) $500,000
C Philip Clarke 2019 9th (267th) $497,500
RHP Chad Dallas 2021 4th (121st) $497,500
3B Mike Snyder 1999 2nd (70th) $495,000
X-OF Tyrell Godwin 2001 3rd (91st) $480,000
RHP Sean Wymer 2018 4th (116th) $478,600
X-INF Kevin Witt 1994 1st (28th) $470,000
A second-round pick in 2013 … RHP Clinton Hollon . Photo: Twitter.
RHP Clinton Hollon 2013 2nd (47th) $467,280
X-RHP Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC) 2007 1st (56th) $462,500
RHP Nick Frasso 2020 4th (106th) $459,000
LHP Justin Maureau 2002 3rd (86th) $455,000
X-OF Shannon Stewart 1992 1st (19th) $450,000
X-OF Todd Steverson 1992 1st (25th) $450,000
X-RHP Dave Bush 2002 2nd (55th) $450,000
X-RHP Daniel Webb 2009 18th (550th) $450,000
X-LHP Evan Smith 2013 4th (115th) $450,000
3B Carl Wise 2015 4th (122nd) $450,000
X-RHP Shaun Marcum 2003 3rd (80th) $449,000
X-1B Adam Lind 2004 3rd (83rd) $445,000
OF Morrin Davis 2000 3rd (88th) $440,000
OF Brian Pettway 2005 3rd (86th) $440,000
X-OF Josh Palacios 2016 4th (132nd) $438,1000
A 15th rounder, LHP Ryan Borucki was selected in 2012.
LHP Ryan Borucki 2012 15th (475th)) $426,000
OF Will Robertson 2019 4th (117th) $422,500
X-INF Kevin Smith 2017 4th (129th) $405,100
X-RHP Drew Hutchison 2009 15th (460th) $400,000
X-RHP Jesus Tinoco 2011 (FA) $400,000
C Jonathan Peguero 2021 (FA) $400,000
LHP Travis Hosterman 2016 11th (342nd) $400,000
INF Tanner Morris 2019 5th (147th) $397,500
X-INF John Tolisano 2007 2nd (76th) #391,500
LHP Mitchell Taylor 2010 7th (216th) $367,500
OF Eric Eiland 2007 2nd (68th) $364,750
SS Chris Hawkins 2010 3rd (93th) $350,000
X-LHP Jairo Labourt 2011 (FA) $350,000
RHP Andrew Liebel 2008 3rd (95th) $340,000
X-RHP Jose Espada 2015 5th (152nd) $330,000
Fraser Valley Chiefs and Vancouver Cannons grad RHP Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) was a fourth rounder.
RHP Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) 2011 4th (139th) $325,000
OF Yeuni Muñoz 2021 (FA) $315,000
2B Cullen Large 2017 5th (159th) $301,100
C Matt Morgan 2014 4th (114) $300,000
X-RHP Justin Maese 2015 3rd (91st) $300,000
X-RHP Alberto Tirado 2011 (FA) $300,000
2B Cavan Biggio 2016 5th (162nd) $300,000
OF D.J. Daniels 2016 6th (192nd) $300,000
X-LHP Kurt Isenberg 2003 4th (110th) $299,000
OF J.C. Masson 2019 26th (777th) $297,500
In 2004, RHP Danny Hill was a third-round pick of the Jays.
RHP Danny Hill 2004 3rd (87th) $285,000
X-RHP Zach Jackson 2016 3rd (102nd) $275,000
INF Addison Barger 2018 6th (176th) $271,100
X-OF Marcus Knecht (North York, Ont.) 2010 3rd (113th) $250,000
LHP Zak Adams 2010 15th (456th) $250,000
X-RHP Myles Jaye 2010 17th (516th) $250,000
X-RHP Anthony DeSclafani 2011 6th (199th) $250,000
X-INF Andy Burns 2011 11th (349th) $250,000
X-RHP Brady Dragmire 2011 17th (529th) $250,000
SS J.C. Cardenas 2015 6th (182nd) $250,000
An eighth-rounder pick in 2015, RHP Kyle Weatherly itched for the Vancouver Canadians.
RHP Kyle Weatherly 2016 8th (252nd) $250,000
X-3B Mark Sobolewski 2008 4th (129th) $243,000
RHP Alan Farina 2007 3rd (115th) $254,250
2B Brandon Mims 2010 9th (276th) $230,000
X-SS Shane Opitz 2010 11th (336th) $225,000
LHP Grayson Huffman 2014 6th (174th) $225,000
INF Cameron Eden 2019 6th (177th) $222,500
X-INF Ryan Goins 2009 4th 130th $216,000
LHP Kendry Rojas 2020 (FA) $215,000
X-RHP Osman Gutierrez 2011 (FA) $210,000
1B PK Morris 2017 14th (429th) $206,500
X-RHP Justin James 2003 5th (140th) $202,500
X-RHP Graham Godfrey 2006 34th (1,020) $200,000
X-LHP Dan Lietz 2013 5th (145th) $200,000
3B Christian Williams 2015 16th (482nd) $200,000
A 39th pick in 2016 CF Chavez Young was given a $200,000 signing bonus.
CF Chavez Young 2016 39th (1,182nd) $200,000
BOLD indicates players who reached the majors