SF Giants will hold the 13th overall pick for the second straight year

The SF Giants were slotted to land the ninth overall pick based on win-loss record but the lottery did not fall in their favor. Instead, the landed the 13th pick for the second straight year.

SF Giants will hold the 13th overall pick for the second straight year

Unfortunately, the difference in slot value between those two picks is sizable. For example, the Pittsburgh Pirates held the ninth overall pick in 2024, with a slot value of $6.2 million. The Giants had the 13th overall pick, with a slot value of $5.2 million.

The $1 million difference in slot values between those two picks is likely going to be in the neighborhood of what it will be in 2025. For the Giants, there will be a lot of focus on that first round pick in 2025.

The draft bonus pools have not been set yet, but the Giants will have a similarly small bonus pool as they did in 2024. When they signed Matt Chapman and Blake Snell, they gave up their second- and third-round picks and $1 million in international bonus pool money.

They did cross the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold of $237 million in 2024. According to Cot's, they committed $250.8 million against the CBT cap. They will pay a small tax on the overage.

However, tax-paying teams like the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers have added penalties in free agency. If they sign a player who rejected a qualifying offer, they will lose their second-and-fifth highest selections as well as $1 million in international bonus pool money.

The Giants did that when they signed Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million pact. Adames rejected a qualifying offer from the Milwaukee Brewers at the start of the offseason. They knew that the chances of retaining him were low but they will now receive a compensatory pick.

For the Giants, it will be the third time in which they have held the 13th overall pick in the past five seasons. The history is not too bad with Patrick Bailey being selected in 2020 followed by James Tibbs III in 2024. Bailey took home his first Gold Glove Award this past season and has quickly established as an excellent defensive backstop.