Last week’s signing frenzy that netted all remaining unsigned first-round picks from the 2007 draft resulted in two of the three largest bonuses in draft history being paid out. The Orioles gave Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters a straight-up $6 million bonus as the fifth overall pick, while the Devil Rays paid No. 1 overall selection David Price, the former Vanderbilt lefthander, a $5.6 million bonus as part of a six-year major league deal.
Both those deals came close, but fell just short of the all-time draft record of $6.1 million that the Diamondbacks gave No. 1 overall pick Justin Upton in 2005.
The attached list includes only the bonus amount in the case of a player signing a major league contract, and considers only players who signed with the teams that drafted them. Righthander Matt White, a 1996 first-round pick of the Giants, signed the largest bonus in draft history, $10 million with the Devil Rays, as a loophole free agent. |
| |
Player, Pos., Team, Year |
Signing Bonus |
| 1. |
Justin Upton, ss, Diamondbacks ’05 |
$6,100,000 |
| 2. |
Matt Wieters, c, Orioles ’07 |
6,000,000 |
| 3. |
*David Price, lhp, Devil Rays ’07 |
5,600,000 |
| 4. |
Joe Borchard, of, White Sox ’00 |
5,300,000 |
| 5. |
Joe Mauer, c, Twins ’01 |
5,150,000 |
| 6. |
B.J. Upton, ss, Devil Rays ’02 |
4,600,000 |
| 7. |
*Mark Teixeira, 1b, Rangers ’01 |
4,500,000 |
| 8. |
*Dewon Brazelton, rhp, Devil Rays ’01 |
4,200,000 |
| |
Gavin Floyd, rhp, Phillies ’01 |
4,200,000 |
| 10. |
*Mark Prior, rhp, Cubs ’01 |
4,000,000 |
| |
Bryan Bullington, Pirates ’02 |
4,000,000 |
| |
*Stephen Drew, ss, Diamondbacks ’04 |
4,000,000 |
| |
Jered Weaver, rhp, Angels ’04 |
4,000,000 |
| |
Alex Gordon, 3b, Royals ’06 |
4,000,000 |
| |
Mike Moustakas, ss, Royals ’07 |
4,000,000 | |