2019 MLB Draft team strategy by division – AL East

Other divisions can have the biggest bonus pool, the most teams in the top half of bonus pools and other such distinctions, but only the American League East hosts the team with the top overall selection. With the top pick and the defending World Series champions in the same division, this is definitely one to watch on June 3rd!

Baltimore Orioles

2018 Record: 47-115
Bonus Pool: $13,821,300
Day 1 selections: 3 (1, 42, 71)
Day 2 selections: 8 (79, 108, 138, 168, 198, 228, 258, 288)

Draft Strategy

The Orioles have the top overall pick, but they really don’t have the leverage with it that recent top drafters have had as there’s an obvious #1 pick that is a hitter, and the Orioles don’t have a pick until #42 after that first pick, so attempting to save money at #1 in order to get a particular player with the second choice is foolhardy as it’s very feasible none of the players you’re targeting could even make it to #42.

That takes away the suspense at #1. Adley Rutschman will be an Oriole, and he should quickly reach the majors as an impact player on both sides of the ball. From there, the team should still have plenty of money to use the rest of the draft. The depth and “flatness” in both sides of the prep class (pitching and hitting) should allow the Orioles to snag plenty of talent into the third day of the draft while there is also collegiate talent to supplement along the way.

One thing that is glossed over by lazy reporting lately is just how well the Orioles have handled pitchers they’ve drafted lately. While the organization had a bad reputation for many years in that area, the development of young arms took a big turn with John Wasdin as the minor league pitching coordinator starting in 2017. Wasdin is in the big league clubhouse as a coach now, but the team is still handling their arms very well, and it would not surprise for them to take multiple young arms in the draft.

Boston Red Sox

2018 Record: 108-54 (won World Series)
Bonus Pool: $4,788,100
Day 1 selections: 2 (43, 69)
Day 2 selections: 8 (107, 137, 167, 197, 227, 257, 287, 317)

Draft Strategy

The Red Sox became Exhibit A for teams trying to explain their lack of spending in the offseason as Boston exceeded the luxury tax by such an amount to trigger the penalty that pushes their first selection of the draft all the way to #43 overall – the second selection of the second round.

Due to their drop in draft slot, their bonus pool is the smallest in the league by a significant amount. Even if someone were to sign Craig Kimbrel by the time the draft happened (unlikely at this point), the Red Sox would receive selection #138, valued at $402K in bonus pool money. That would barely squeak them by the Brewers in total bonus pool by less than $40K. However, since that scenario is quite unlikely, the Red Sox need to plan for a full slate of selections with the lowest draft pool by a significant amount.

That means the Red Sox could go one of two ways with their first-day picks, both in the second round. They could use the deep college classes to get two prospects that would move quickly and help out the big league club, hoping to float some money past the second day into the third day where they could potentially target prep players that slipped past the first two days.

With the current state of Boston’s farm system, the method that allowed the team to bring in the most talent possible would be the best method, whichever method that would be on draft day.

New York Yankees

2018 Record: 100-62 (Wild Card, lost ALDS)
Bonus Pool: $7,455,300
Day 1 selections: 3 (30, 38, 67)
Day 2 selections: 8 (105, 135, 165, 195, 225, 255, 285, 315)

Draft Strategy

While the Yankees do pick twice before the second round, they still have a budget under $7.5 million, so they can’t go “hog wild”. That said, there are a pair of players who have identified a desire to play for the Yankees that fit into those potential spots in shortstop Anthony Volpe and pitcher Jack Leiter.

Those two selected at 30 and 38 would eat up a huge chunk of the bonus pool for the Yankees, who would likely immediately be in the market for college seniors at that point. That just does not seem like a strategy that Brian Cashman would take come draft day, but it wouldn’t surprise to see one of the two plucked by the Yankees.

The Yankees definitely have shown an ability to take projection bodies on the mound and fill them in with premier velocity added as they fill. That could inform a number of their second-day selections as there are a number of big frame pitchers that would fit very well into the Yankee system.

Tampa Bay Rays

2018 Record: 90-72
Bonus Pool: $10,333,800
Day 1 selections: 4 (22, 36, 40, 61)
Day 2 selections: 8 (99, 128, 158, 188, 218, 248, 278, 308)

Draft Strategy

The Rays are one of two teams with three selections or more before the second round, though they have a standard draft after that point, so they may not go too crazy early, as they didn’t with a similar setup in the 2018 draft. The 2018 draft saw the Rays use five first day picks (three before the second round) on 3 college players and two prep players.

The available money will allow the Rays to be strategic in their draft position in ways that a team picking 22nd overall typically couldn’t be, potentially attacking a top high school player who may be falling due to a big bonus demand. The Rays have been scouting college hitting quite heavy as well, so they could definitely be on the deep college bat class.

One area this year’s class could fit with the Rays system and development strategy well is in the flexibility of many players in the draft. There are a host of players who are legit two-way options and multiple position players who have experience playing around the diamond. Those are both things that would attract the Rays for sure!

Toronto Blue Jays

2018 Record: 73-89
Bonus Pool: $8,463,300
Day 1 selections: 2 (11, 52)
Day 2 selections: 8 (88, 117, 147, 177, 207, 237, 267, 297)

Draft Strategy

After seemingly scouting college players heavy all spring, the Blue Jays surprised everyone last spring when they grabbed a prep shortstop with their first pick. Now this year, they are sending out a lot of the same signals, specifically scouting college pitching heavily.

Last year’s surprise came due to a deal with their selection. While there isn’t a consensus #1 prep pitching prospect, there is a group of 3-5 pitchers (Matthew Allan, Brennan Malone, Daniel Espino, Quinn Priester, Hunter Barco before injury, some would include others) who could have a legit claim at the top of the class in talent. That could allow the Jays to strike a deal with one of the prep arms for the #11 spot.

The team could also use their leverage to come out of the draft with a quality college arm in the #11 spot and then see which prep arms make it to #52 overall and plucking one of the deep prep pitching class to come out of the first day with two pitchers. They’re also looking at high-upside bats, college or prep.

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