MLB Draft 2011: Draftees Likely to Command the Largest Bonuses

MLB draft bonuses have spiraled out of control over the past decade.

A $5 million bonus used to make heads spin and general managers faint. Last year, however, four players received bonuses in excess of that number, including one player who wasn't even drafted in the top 20, the Dodgers Zach Lee.

Nowadays the new number is $6 million. 

Since 1965, only 12 players have ever breached the $6 million milestone, with the most recent coming last year in the form of a $6.5 million bonus to Jameson Taillon (No. 2 pick), and a $6.2 million bonus to Bryce Harper (No. 1).

Even with the system instituted by Major League Baseball many years ago, teams are still going way over-slot to ink players, and while there might be some changes in the works to put into play a strict bonus-slotting system, this year is sure to be another financial orgy.

It is also quite possibly the last chance for bottom-dwelling teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates to shell out the extra dough that it takes to sign some late-round picks.

Here's a quick peek at what some of the top picks are expected to ask for. 

10) Kevin Comer, RHP, Seneca HS (NJ)

The least known player on this list, Comer isn't even expected to hear his name called in the first-round.

The solidly built righthander throws in the low 90s, can reach the mid 90s, features a great curveball and a very promising changeup. He also throws a slider.

He didn't have the most impressive senior season, missing some time and showing lessened velocity, but he should still be taken in the first five rounds. Not to mention the fact that he looked brilliant as a sophomore and junior, setting all sorts of school records in the process.

The only thing that should cause him to slide is his commitment to Vanderbilt, which is apparently very strong.

Baseball America thinks highly enough of Comer to label him as a potential first-round talent if he does indeed sign with Vandy, where he would be a part of an amazing class that also includes Tyler Beede (Mass.), Shawon Dunston Jr., (Calif.) and Phil Pfeifer (Tenn.).

As with most Vandy commits though, it's going to take a lot of money to get him to drop that and take up pro ball. If there's any guy who's a shoe-in to get a bonus in the neighborhood of $2 million after the first-round, it's Comer.

9) Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy (FL)

I don't know if you've heard, but prep shortstops with five-tool potential tend to get pretty good bonuses.

See, Beckham, Tim ($6.15 million) and Machado, Manny ($5.25 million).

While Lindor doesn't have as much potential with the bat as Machado, he's likely to command a bonus north of $3 million, and don't think he's completely out of his mind for doing so.

First off, Lindor is a pretty safe bet to stick at shortstop, which can't be said for most high school shortstops.

Second, he plays the position with grace and agility unknown to either Beckham or Machado. He can make all the throws. He makes the simple plays look amazing and the amazing look simple.

Third, he's pretty talented at the plate, and while he doesn't offer much power to speak of, he earns some bonus points for being a switch-hitter. He should hit for a decent average as a pro.

Fourth, as this draft's top shortstop prospect, he's a shoe-in to go in the top-ten picks, even with signability concerns.

8) Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS (SC)

High schoolers tend to have a history of commanding the largest draft bonuses, and that's because they have the most leverage. 

They can spurn an offer they deem unworthy, and head off to college to test the waters in three years, when they'll arguably be more seasoned, more big-league ready, and all-around better.

This will likely be the case with Guerrieri, who has a scholarship offer pending to South Carolina, where I hear they're pretty good at baseball.

The flame-throwing righthander might be all fastball, but at least it's a good one that is capable of reaching 98 mph. He does throw a pretty decent slider, but just like his fastball, he lacks the consistency that Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley have.

Still, thanks to his easy velocity, there's a great chance he'll be the first high school pitcher off the board, possibly in the top-five, almost guaranteeing him a bonus in the $4-5 million range.

7) Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia

There was a report floating around this week that Hultzen was looking for close to $13 million.

There's no way he's getting anything close to Strasburg money, but like most of the other guys at the top, it might be his way of positioning himself and attempting to scare off some teams he has no interest in.

The D-Backs seem to be pretty high on Hultzen, but they also have two of the first seven picks in the draft, so either way they're going to end up spending a good chunk of change. However, the likelihood that they go all out and offer Hultzen anything north of $10, or even $8 million is not looking too good right now. 

6) Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS (OK)

Bradley is just one of several draft prospects who is talented at something other than baseball, and while that rare skill-set might hurt him on draft day, it will likely help his cause come the signing deadline.

The burly right-hander has a scholarship offer outstanding to attend Oklahoma, where he would likely backup current starter Landry Jones.

Bradley has consistently been rated as one of the top quarterbacks available in the 2011 football recruiting classes, with numerous accolades and honors headed his way.

Fortunately, he's pretty good on the diamond too, where he churns out 93-97 mph fastballs with ease. He complements his power pitch with a solid curveball that has some knuckle-curve action to it, and a decent changeup that has gotten dramatically better over the course of his senior season.

Bradley is also pretty good at the plate, where he offers some serious power.

It's on the mound that he's at his best, though, which means that's where the money is going to be.

I would be shocked if he signed for less than $3 million, but there's no way he's coming close to the rumored $20 million that he's demanding. 

5) Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice

As the top position player in this draft, Rendon should at least be paid accordingly.

If teams do decide he's fully healthy, and that none of the ailments that plagued him this season are long-term concerns, he could be in for a big payday.

One that could be further enhanced if he can stay healthy enough during workouts to prove he can hit for power with wood bats, something he hasn't been able to do because he's missed the past two summers do to injury, robbing him of valuable time in the Cape Cod League.

Without a doubt, he'll get more than the player he is usually compared to, Evan Longoria, who earned a $3 million bonus as the third overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Going in the top-three will help, as the teams with picks there (Pittsburgh, Seattle and Arizona) all have a history of shelling out what it takes to get their guy.

4) Josh Bell, Of, Jesuit Prep (TX)

While Bell proclaimed last week that he doesn't want to be drafted, don't let that fool you.

He's still going to be taken in the top two rounds. And he's going to get offered a boatload of money.

The only question is whether or not this is a scheme cooked up with his advisor, the ever-wily Scott Boras.

I believe education is important to the Bell family, but by taking a top-ten bonus, which Bell is likely to receive, he ensures he gets paid NOW. He can always go back for his degree in the offseasons.

Education was the holdup for Danny Hultzen coming out of high school and was a rumored issue this season, with many believing he might head back to UVA for his senior season. In the end, he and his family realized taking the money makes the most sense in the long run.

Especially with a new CBA that's likely to include draft-slotting right around the corner.

3) Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA

Like many other members of this draft class, Cole has been on the other side of the negotiating table before. 

Back in 2008, he was the 28th overall pick by the New York Yankees. Cole, however, was very determined to head off to UCLA, so negotiations never got very far. Cole headed off to UCLA, and the Yankees picked up a consolation pick that they used on Texas high schooler Slade Heathcott, who has been every bit as good as advertised.

The number that was floated around in the press was $4 million. That is potentially the kind of money that Cole turned down as a late first-round pick, money that would have been devastating to the Commissioner's Office and their efforts to force teams to cut back on spending.

Three years later, Cole is arguably the top prospect in this year's draft, and a whole heck of a lot better than he was in 2008. 

Now that he has one draft's worth of experience under his belt, he has a solid asking price to start with.

He'll get no less than $4 million, and could demand as much as Taillon got last year, under the argument that his stuff is just as good, but he has more seasoning and should move quicker through the minors.

2) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS (OK)

When news broke that Bundy was going to be looking for $30 million come the signing deadline, a few things happened.

One, everyone involved in the draft, from those who will be making the actual picks to those covering it for various publications and news outlets, realized that the teams weren't the only ones that realized this could be baseball's final un-capped, slot-free draft.

The players are also looking for a huge payday.

Two, the baseball world laughed a good, long chuckle. There's no way in H-E-double hockey sticks that he's going to even come close to that kind of deal.

As good as Bundy has been, and he's been arguably the most impressive high school pitcher this decade, he's not worth that kind of money. Heck, he's not even worth Strasburg money.

Still, Bundy is going to command a pretty hefty bonus thanks to the impressive spring he's had pitching for one of the top-ranked teams in the country. He made one-hitters a common occurrence and 15-strikeout games an everyday feat. 

He also generated some major helium by reportedly touching 100 mph on the radar gun in an April start.

Scouts who have seen him pitch this spring say that he's one of the top high schoolers to come along in a very long time. His control is excellent, his repertoire filthy. He throws a curveball, changeup and a cutter, all of which he commands like a professional.

Bundy's demands are sure to come down as the draft nears closer, but I get the feeling he'll still be looking for something in the $7-10 million range. 

1) Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner Edgerton HS (CA)

As a three-sport star who has a legitimate future on the football gridiron, Bubba Starling is likely to command a massive bonus, in the $5-6 million range.

And he might just be worth all that coin.

He features some of the best speed in this draft, and also has light-tower power. He's incredibly agile in the outfield, and has a rocket arm that has gotten him some attention in this draft as a pitcher.

Starling's tools are scary and undeniable.

As such, he's a shoe-in to go in the top-five, and whoever has eyes for him is going to have to make sure to include enough zeros on that bonus check that he decides to forsake his football career, forever breaking the heart (or at least for just a year) of all those Nebraska Cornhusker football fans.

Sorry Bo, this kid's going pro.