Carlos Rodon has inked a deal with the Chicago White Sox today.
For the past 24+ hours, it had been rumored from multiple sources that Rodon either already had signed, or was on his way to Chicago to sign, a deal with a signing bonus estimated at $6.45M. But the finalized deal/negotiations did not occur until today, after Rodon and the ChiSox were both satisfied post-physical exam that Rodon’s left elbow would not soon be exploding.
His finalized deal includes a signing bonus of $6.582M, the highest of this year’s draft.
White Sox Sign Carlos Rodon To Largest Bonus In 2014 Draft (BasballAmerica.com)
The White Sox and lefthander Carlos Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, have agreed to terms on a contract that includes a signing bonus of $6,582,000, the largest signing bonus for a draft pick in franchise history, the largest signing bonus in this year’s draft class, and a bonus more than $700,000 above slot value.
No. 1 overall draft pick Brady Aiken and the Astros agreed to terms last month on a $6.5 million bonus, though an Astros club official reports that deal has never become official, and CBSSports.com’s John Heyman has reported the Astros have reduced their bonus offer to $5 million.
Rodon’s bonus was just at the maximum amount the White Sox could offer without losing a draft pick next year. Current draft rules establish an overall signing budget for each team, based on the combined pick values for all of its selections in the first 10 rounds. Teams that exceed the budget pay a 75 percent tax on the overage, and if they go more than 5 percent over budget they lose a first-round pick in the next draft.
Carlos Rodon Rumors (MLBTradeRumors.com)
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Rodon is expected to land first in advanced A ball in Winston-Salem, though no timetable for his arrival has been released.
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Congrats and best of luck to you Carlos, from all of us!!!
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(As an aside, for those of you wishing to turn this thread into yet another politically fueled p-ssing contest, might I suggest Rodon’s new tax bracket as a starting point? Just trying to help. 🙂 )
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