Everything To Know Before the 2026 MLB Draft: Cubs Draft Picks, Bonus Pool Money, Slot Values
· Yahoo Sports
The 2026 MLB Draft will officially begin on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m. CST.
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Round 1 through Round 4 will take place on Saturday, July 11, and Rounds 5 through 20 will take place on Sunday, July 12. This 20-round draft will span two days and feature 615 prospects being selected.
Here’s everything you need to know before the 2026 MLB Draft involving the Chicago Cubs.
Cubs PicksThe Cubs will have 21 picks in the 2026 MLB Draft. They will have one pick in every round, and also have a compensation pick after losing Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency.
That compensation pick will come before the third round at pick No. 75.
Here’s every pick the Cubs have in the 2026 MLB Draft:
Round 1 (Pick 23)
Round 2 (Pick 62)
Free-Agent Compensation Round (Pick 75)
Round 3 (Pick 98)
Round 4 (Pick 126)
Round 5 (Pick 159)
Round 6 (Pick 188)
Round 7 (Pick 217)
Round 8 (Pick 247)
Round 9 (Pick 277)
Round 10 (Pick 307)
Round 11 (Pick 337)
Round 12 (Pick 367)
Round 13 (Pick 397)
Round 14 (Pick 427)
Round 15 (Pick 457)
Round 16 (Pick 487)
Round 17 (Pick 517)
Round 18 (Pick 547)
Round 19 (Pick 577)
Round 20 (Pick 607)
Cubs Bonus PoolEach team gets a specific amount to spend in the MLB Draft. This bonus pool is based on each team's draft picks. The higher pick you have, the more money you are allowed to spend on these prospects.
For instance, the Chicago White Sox have a slot value of $11,350,600 for the No. 1 overall pick. On the other hand, the Milwaukee Brewers have a slot value of $3,696,000 for the No. 25 overall pick.
Each pick in the first 10 rounds is assigned a slot value. Teams can give more than that amount, fewer than that amount, or that exact amount to players. But these teams cannot exceed their total bonus pool money in the first 10 rounds.
These are the Cubs' slot values for the first 10 rounds:
Round 1 (Pick 23): $3,947,600
Round 2 (Pick 62): $1,487,200
Free-Agent Compensation Round (Pick 75): $1,120,900
Round 3 (Pick 98): $800,000
Round 4 (Pick 126): $609,200
Round 5 (Pick 159): $441,300
Round 6 (Pick 188): $344,400
Round 7 (Pick 217): $272,000
Round 8 (Pick 247): $224,100
Round 9 (Pick 277): $204,100
Round 10 (Pick 307): $193,300
Total: $9,644,100
Cubs Recent 1st Round Picks
2025: Wake Forest OF Ethan Conrad (17th overall)
2024: Florida State 3B Cam Smith (14th overall)
2023: Maryland SS Matt Shaw (13th overall)
2022: Oklahoma SP Cade Horton (7th overall)
2021: Kansas State SP Jordan Wicks (21st overall)
How To WatchWhen: July 11 and July 12
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time: 12:00 p.m. CST (July 11), 10:30 a.m. CST (July 12)
Network: First 10 picks on NBC & Peacock, Picks 11 through 40 on MLB Network, entire draft on MLB.com/MLB.TV