2026 MLB Draft Shrinks to 2 Days as White Sox Hold No. 1 Pick
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
2026 MLB Draft Shrinks to 2 Days as White Sox Hold No. 1 Pick
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
Summary
Saturday’s 2026 MLB Draft opens a new two-day format, with four rounds on Day 1 and rounds 5-20 on Sunday.
Chicago owns the No. 1 pick, but the largest bonus pool belongs to Pittsburgh at $19.13 million, ahead of Tampa Bay’s $19.01 million and the White Sox’s $17.59 million.
Five luxury-tax offenders — the Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers — were pushed out of the first round by 10-pick penalties, leaving Los Angeles with its first selection at No. 40.
Bonus-pool rules still allow teams to exceed slot values, but spending 5%-10% over triggers a 75% tax and the loss of a future first-round pick; the signing deadline is July 27.