Thursday: Bridges signed for $225k according to Baseball America (subs. req’d), so his “pool hit” is $125k. The Yankees are (unofficially) currently $114k (1.4%) over their pool, meaning they will pay just under $86k in tax if they don’t sign anyone else to an above-slot bonus before tomorrow afternoon’s deadline.
Friday: Via Jim Callis: The Yankees have agreed to sign 20th round pick Drew Bridges to an over-slot bonus. The exact amount is unknown, but Callis says it is sixth round money. That would put it in the $175-300k range. As a 20th rounder, anything he gets in excess of $100k counts against the team’s draft pool.
Bridges, 18, is a third baseman out of a Missouri high school. In their pre-draft scouting report, Baseball America (subs. req’d) said he “earns Brett Wallace comparisons because he’s a big-bodied left-handed hitter who can produce for average and might have interesting power if he adds loft to his swing.” Bridges is a big kid at 6-foot-4 and 220 lbs., so his ability to remain at third long-term is a question.
Keep tabs on the team’s draft pool with our 2013 Draft Pool page.