Re: Comp Picks Alters 2026 Draft Strategy, Dramatically
Posted: 03 Feb 2026 13:17 pm
awesome post, BB...I don't like doing this, but I've been preaching/talking about the Brewers unconventional drafting style for the last 2 or 3 seasons. It's chaotic, and it would drive me nuts, but they've doing well with it, while mixing in good hitting, albeit soft on fielding, college players. Couple that strat with their impressive DSL finds....I'm starting to think their developmental strats are the best in the league, or at least rivaling the Dodgers.BleedingBleu wrote: ↑03 Feb 2026 06:10 am As already reported, Bloom was able to receive two Top 100 Picks (#68 & #72) in the upcoming Draft to go along with the #13 pick the wet-fart for a Draft Lottery produced and the #32 pick via Competitive Balance A.
Prior to the deal, the Cardinals had the 8th highest Signing Pool allotment at ~$13.7M.
For the 2025 Draft, the #68 & #72 Picks added about ~$2.4M to the team’s draft pool; which would move the Cardinals into the Top 5 for Draft Pool Allotment.1 - Tampa Bay Rays: $19,590,500
2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: $18,592,800
3 - Chicago White Sox: $17,090,000
4 - Minnesota Twins: $16,410,400
5 - Kansas City Royals: $15,505,000
6 - Atlanta Braves: $15,415,700
7 - Colorado Rockies: $15,103,600
8 - St. Louis Cardinals: $13,741,900
9 - San Francisco Giants: $13,674,500
10 - Athletics: $13,399,500
68. Brewers: $1,254,400
72. Cardinals: $1,145,900
This means they’ll have almost $2M more to spend on Draft Picks then they had last season when they had the 7th Highest at a combined $14.2M and the #5 Pick (Slotted at $8.1M). Hopefully, the Cardinals will see some high value HS players drop into their loving arms at #13, because they are ripe to take advantage of such good fortunes.
Some of you might remember the 2025 Brewers Draft Strategy; which emphasized high-upside, high school talent. They ended up selecting 12 high school players, with a significant chunk of those prep players on Day 2.Where the Draft Is Headed Next: Money, Models, and Development
The 2026 MLB Draft is about more than just the players selected. It’s a pivotal moment in how teams build their future. Over-slot bonuses will continue to be a major tool in a team’s arsenal. As teams get better at scouting, data analytics, and player development, the draft will become an even more dynamic part of how organizations approach the long-term build.
The teams that will succeed in 2026 are the ones that balance financial risk with talent evaluation. In the years to come, the draft will continue to evolve, and front offices will have to stay one step ahead of the changes.
The 2025 Brewers had similar Pick Slotting, but far less money allotment (~13.1M). Hopefully, Bloom’s recent investments in Jupiter, funneling cash towards their new Pitching Academy and Player Development, will allow the Cardinals to leverage these compensation picks to acquire loads of high-end HS Talent in the 2026 Draft.
Get those scouts out to the HS Diamonds!
anyways, thoroughly enjoyed the read. I'd like a really good college bat with the 13th pick, and then go crazy with high upside Prep Stars....sign who you can...throw as much money as you can at them, too. I don't mind if it's more than what we offer the 13th pick...and I don't mind if we don't sign 5 or 6 players, like the Brewers always fail to do....they do come away with 5 highend, high upside Prep Picks, so it's a win for them anyways.
The true definition of unrealized gains, draft picks. Takes years to get them to the majors and productive (if they ever produce at all) then when they hit arbitration you sell them to a contender and start all over again. Sell the base on this perpetual "rebuilding" and pocket the cash. So smart only a billionaire would do it. 
