The 2025 Philadelphia Phillies Draft Picks and Signings

[julio]

I could see 100-200k off of Wood's bonus, maybe $700k off of Obermuller, 100-200k off of Boyker, and $400k off of the combined bonuses for Youngerman and Craig, so something in the neighborhood of 1.5 million plus the 250k slot value.

They can do $400k on Craig alone (that leaves $22,700, which would be fairly typical for a signee with no more college eligibility), and add another $200k from the Walters pick (another college senior)... and don't forget they can go over their pool by 5% without penalty - that's another $390K. If they take college seniors the next two rounds, they could pick up another $300k on top of that.

[phillyfn]

That may be the case. I’m not saying it’s not. What I’m saying is it will all come down to the money. Maybe the Phils have a better idea than some other teams that he is open to signing

[andyb]

I don't think the Phillies can offer Fisher more money though than other organizations. He clearly has an expensive price that the Phillies would meet. As we discussed earlier it might be a wash financially for him to go to college versus the pros money-wise. In that case he might have said he will only sign with the Phillies for that amount unless some team blows that amount away in their offer.

[julio]

In that case he might have said he will only sign with the Phillies for that amount unless some team blows that amount away in their offer.

Of course, what other teams might have offered is moot now. It's college or the Phils.

[fish]

I don't think the Phillies can offer Fisher more money though than other organizations. He clearly has an expensive price that the Phillies would meet.

Based on what other highly ranted "draft sliders" have received (like Travis Sykora), I'm thinking it must be in the $2million range.

[andyb]

Of course, what other teams might have offered is moot now. It's college or the Phils.

But teams rarely draft a player in the top 10 rounds if they think they can't sign them. If Fisher said his price is $2 million and he would only go to 3 or 4 organizations then it is really up to those organizations to plan their draft around that.

Your comment really imagines a world without bonus pools and slots and does not resemble how the decisions really got made. You can't just draft a kid and offer them $3 million these days. It is a much more calculating enterprise. Does anyone now believe that the 6th year reliever they drafted was anything more than the best player they could draft who would also accept the smallest bonus?

[julio]

Of course not. That's why I pretty much expect that the 9th and 10th picks will be college seniors.

But I'm wrong! They just took a high school kid!

[Squire]

In the Ninth Round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Philadelphia Phillies have selected:

Matthew Ferrara, SS, Toms River HS, NJ

First non-pitcher

Hmmmm......

[andyb]

Pitt college commitment. Really a surprising choice. Guess the almost local piece was important because he looks like the level of talent where he would almost certainly do better with NIL money than even a slightly overslot ($250-300K?) bonus offer.

[BaseballCat]

Matthew Ferrara Class of 2025 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

[JaxBill]

Are Fisher and Ferrarra an either/or situation?

[dicemen99]

Pitt college commitment. Really a surprising choice. Guess the almost local piece was important because he looks like the level of talent where he would almost certainly do better with NIL money than even a slightly overslot ($250-300K?) bonus offer.

I think you and others here are vastly overestimating the amount of NIL available for baseball at all but the very, very top programs.

The CFP does not count towards the signing bonus cap, so you can eliminate including the value of the scholarship in the NIL figures like us customary practice.

A not-top-in-the-country-type kid going to Pitt on a baseball scholarship is NOT getting $250K upfront on top of his scholarship.

Much like in football where there are 5 to 10 teams operating in the $50M range and the 15ish team is spending less than half that, the same thing is happening in other sports.

There are whales splashing the pot for a select few and then a massive drop-off.

There aren't 100 splashes to go around in baseball.

[andyb]

Are Fisher and Ferrarra an either/or situation?

Almost certainly not as they are different levels of prospects. And not signing Ferrara would hurt the Phillies because they would lose his slot. Signing Ferrara might be more difficult than Fisher because one assumes they already have a deal with Fisher.

[Squire]

I would lean towards "no" just because Ferrera was picked inside the first 10 rounds but I also cannot rule it out. I do think you'll see the Phillies use a later round pick on a possible Fisher insurance policy (i,e, another HS guy to give the money to in case Fisher doesn't sign).

[andyb]

A not-top-in-the-country-type kid going to Pitt on a baseball scholarship is NOT getting $250K upfront on top of his scholarship.

But he only needs $50K a year plus his scholarship to match or exceed the pro bonus. Remember NIL money is single year money and there is also no longer a baseball scholarship limit to deal with. There are many more full scholarships these days than shared scholarships.

There is also much more NIL money floating around than you think.

️ Pitt Baseball x Alliance 412

Proud to support these Panthers through Alliance 412 this season. pic.twitter.com/piQBnaziaF

— Alliance 412 ( @Alliance_412 ) April 3, 2025

[Squire]

In the Tenth Round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Philadelphia Phillies select:

Cole Gilley, RHP, Indiana University, Grad.

[andyb]

That looks like some bonus savings. And maybe a big brother to mentor Fisher in the system (Indiana connection).

[julio]

...and they're taking a one-hour break. Eleventh round picks begin at 4:10 pm EDT.

[dicemen99]

A not-top-in-the-country-type kid going to Pitt on a baseball scholarship is NOT getting $250K upfront on top of his scholarship.

But he only needs $50K a year plus his scholarship to match or exceed the pro bonus. Remember NIL money is single year money and there is also no longer a baseball scholarship limit to deal with. There are many more full scholarships these days than shared scholarships.

There is also much more NIL money floating around than you think.

️ Pitt Baseball x Alliance 412

Proud to support these Panthers through Alliance 412 this season. pic.twitter.com/piQBnaziaF

— Alliance 412 (@Alliance_412

) April 3, 2025

No, there's not.

That's not the way it works. Even in the revenue sports NIL is rarely guaranteed for more than 2 years. Non guarantees are just that. Non- guarantees.

If someone offered me $250k today vs. $125 for the next 2 years plus the possibility of more in years 3 and 4, that's kinda a wash. Not to mention the fact that I get training and priority from the powers to be in my chosen vocation -which is very exclusive - WITHOUT giving up a free education.

Now, some may roll the dice that they could become a large bonus baby in 3 years - a big risk, especially at Pitt. But that's not the smart play.

Again, that kid is NOT getting $250k above scholarship per year at Pitt - a school that has opted into the revenue share and will allocate over 90% to football and basketball -- no matter what you think unless Pitt has a nine figure net worth baseball booster that I don't know about (maybe that is the case). But the 412 Alliance ain't getting him there

[dicemen99]

And even if he comes close to that figure (which I doubt), it only costs the Phils a couple hundred thousand over to make an appealing offer.

The only variable is kids betting on themselves to be a bonus baby in 3 years (again , not a smart bet, but some make it) which you can't control, but you would hope they had some inkling on before they spent a top 10 pick on.