Seattle Mariners No Longer Have Most Slot Money For 2025 MLB Draft

This deal could either mean nothing for the rest of the league, or it could create ripple effects.

Teams aren't allowed to directly trade draft pool money or first round picks, but teams can deal the competitive balance picks, which gives teams bigger slot pools. The 37th pick the O's acquired is a competitive balance pick.

The Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels and Mariners have the top three picks in the draft (in order) and have the three largest bonus pools in the draft, after the Orioles. There's a lot of elite talent to choose from with the top three picks. There will be players who could be selected in that range who will fall down in the draft, who can be signed over the pick's slot value.

Teams forced to go deeper into their pool to sign their top picks may look to add more money, which could lead to Baltimore making another trade.

The Orioles have placed a huge value on their picks in recent seasons. Most of their major league core, such as Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday, were all drafted and developed by Baltimore. But the team is in the middle of a down season, and there might be a focus in leveraging that pick and extra bonus pool money to net an immediate contributor or major league-ready prospects.

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MLB INSIDER ALSO PROJECTS MARINERS TO DRAFT ELITE COLLEGE SHORTSTOP: The Athletic's Keith Law reaffirmed his belief that the Mariners will select one of the best college hitters available in the 2025 draft. CLICK HERE