O's are draft's 4th biggest spenders since 2008

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

August 23, 2010, 5:40pm

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A report by Baseball America lists the top teams in spending on the First-Year Player Draft from 2008 through 2010. The Orioles are listed fourth on that list, with bonuses totaling 24.8 million over the last three drafts. Top draft spendors, 2008 through 2010: $30.6 million - Pittsburgh $28.3 million - Boston $28.2 million - Washington $24.8 million - Baltimore Baseball America says that the O's $5.25 million bonus that top pick Manny Machado got this year is the 14th largest signing bonus ever. BA also reports that pitcher Parker Bridwell received the largest bonus of any player in the ninth round, getting $625,000. The average bonus for a ninth-round pick was $132,839. Back on August 19, we reported that the O's signed their 39 draft picks this year to a figure that would likely come up just short of $9.2 million dollars. Baseball America lists that figure as $9,159,900. That is the sixth highest in baseball this year, trailing the Nationals, Pirates, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Indians. It should be pointed out that the success of a draft is not directly related to the amount of the bonuses handed out. The Orioles have increased their draft spending in recent years, setting a franchise record at $8.7 million in bonuses last year and topping it this year.