The years of the Cubs selecting at the top of the draft and having a protected pick are likely over. The Cubs plan on competing for a division title and playing in October every season.
The Cubs finished the 2015 regular season with the third best record in baseball (97-65). And even with having a third place finish in the National League Central Division as it stands now, the Cubs have the 28th pick in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
The Cubs will also have less to spend on International free agents but with the front office surpassing its International free agent pool during the current signing period, the Cubs will be under penalty for the next two signing periods and not be able to sign a player for more than $300,000.
According to Jim Callis and Ben Badler, the Phillies will likely be allocated more than $9 million for the first pick in the draft. The Diamondbacks were allotted $8,616,900 for the first pick in the 2015 draft.
The order in the first round could change depending on the free agents that are signed with draft pick compensation tied to them in the off-season. Teams have until five days after the end of the World Series to make a qualifying offer to their free agents.
The first 10 picks are protected. The Phillies, Reds, Braves, Rockies, Brewers, Athletics, Marlins, Padres, Tigers and White Sox select at the top of the 2016 draft. If those 10 teams sign free agents in the off-season with draft pick compensation tied to them, the team does not surrender its first round pick.
The two free agent pitchers believed to be at the top of the Cubs off-season list are LHP David Price and RHP Jordan Zimmermann. Price cannot receive a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays because he was trade in-season. The Nationals will make Zimmermann a qualifying offer. Zimmermann will not accept it and hit free agency. Like Jon Lester last off-season, the Cubs will not lose its first round pick or the slot money by signing David Price.
2016 First-Round MLB Draft Order
- Phillies (63-99)
- Reds (64-98)
- Braves (67-95)
- Rockies (68-94)
- Brewers (68-94)
- Athletics (68-94)
- Marlins (71-91)
- Padres (74-88)
- Tigers (74-87)
- White Sox (76-86)
- Mariners (76-86)
- Red Sox (78-84)
- Diamondbacks (79-83)
- Rays (80-82)
- Orioles (81-81)
- Indians (81-80)
- Twins (83-79)
- Nationals (83-79)
- Giants (84-78)
- Angels (85-77)
- Astros (86-76)
- Yankees (87-75)
- Rangers (88-74)
- Mets (90-72)
- Dodgers (92-70)
- Blue Jays (93-69)
- Royals (95-67)
- Cubs (97-65)
- Pirates (98-64)
- Cardinals (100-62)
The 28th pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft was assigned a slot value of $1,974,700. The Cubs were assigned $3,351,000 for the ninth pick in the 2015 draft.
The Cubs’ front office has talked about how important scouting on the amateur level will be for the team moving forward. In order to keep adding impact talent to the system through the draft, the Cubs will have to do an even better job than they have over the last four years.