August 31, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

What do the Blue Jays expect to receive from this July’s first-round pick Brandon Barriera down the road?

Well, if we just go off the monies paid to pitchers in previous drafts, Barriera was given $3.4 million US as the 23rd player selected in North America. The Jays forked that over so the Plantation, Fla. high schooler would ignore the Vanderbilt Commodores advances.

The amount Barriera received which was the second highest bonus the Jays have ever awarded to a pitcher.

Only RHP Alek Manoah, chosen 11th overall in 2019 has been given more. Manoah was paid a bonus of $4,547,500 to leave the West Virginia Mountaineers a year early.

Formerly at No. 2 on the pitcher’s pay list is RHP Jeff Hoffman, who went ninth overall in 2014 and was given a $3,080,800 bonus. Hoffman was “the one that got away,” according to Alex Anthopoulos (Montreal, Que.) critics when he was included in the Troy Tulowitzki deal in 2015.

Hoffman is pitching out of the Cincinnati Reds bullpen. To date he’s 15-21 with one save and a 5.68 ERA. Hoffman has pitched in 134 games -- making 50 starts -- as he has walked 175 and struck out 321 in 348 1/3 innings.

Brandon Barriera the Jays first round pick in July was a selection from Plantation, Fla. high school.

So, the Jays are hoping Barriera’s talent is closer to Manoah, who grew up to be the ace of this year’s staff, rather than Hoffman’s. Manoah is 21-9 with a 2.86 ERA in his 45 starts -- -- 20 in 2021 and 25 this season. In Manoah’s first 45 starts in the majors he has struck out 274, the most in franchise history by a pitcher. Second best is RHP Juan Guzmán with 267.

He gained his 20th win in his 39th career game, becoming the second fastest in Blue Jays history to reach the mark. Guzman won his 20th in his 38th start.

His 2.09 ERA through 15 starts of this season was the second-lowest mark all time by a Blue Jay, trailing only Roger Clemens (1.90 in 1997).

Earlier he recorded his 200th career whiff, becoming the fastest player in franchise history to reach the mark, doing so in 33 games. It took Guzmán 35 games in 1991-92.

Never let it be said that drafting is an exact science, but you would have to go three more pitcher signings before finding an all-star in Ricky Romero, selected sixth overall in 2005 and given a $2.4 bonus.

The other two arms were free-agent sign RHP Adonys Cardona, given $2.8 million in 2010 and RHP Nate Pearson chosen 28th and signed for $2,452,900 in 2017. Cardona pitched six seasons with 115 games peaking at class-A Lansing, while Pearson has appeared in 17 games with the Blue Jays ... a 5.18 ERA in 33 innings.

* * *

Top dollars in signing bonuses ($200,000 or more)

(Includes year, round drafted (over-all pick) and free-agent status (FA)

INF-OF Austin Martin 2020 1st (5th) $7,000,825 US.

RHP Alek Manoah 2019 1st (11th) $4,547,500.

SS Adeiny Hechavarria 2010 (FA) $4 M

INF Vlad Guerrero, Jr. 2015 (FA) $3.9 M

LHP Brandon Barriera 2022 1st (23rd) $3.6 M

INF Jordan Groshans, 2018 1st (12th) $3.4 M

RHP Jeff Hoffman 2014 1st (9th) $3,080,800

C Max Pentecost 2014 1st (11th) $2,888,300

SS Logan Warmoth 2017 1st (22nd) $2,820,200

RHP Adonys Cardona 2010 (FA) $2.8 M

RHP Nate Pearson, 2017 1st (28th) $2,452,900

RHP Adam Kloffenstein, 2018 3rd (88th) $2.45

SS Manuel Beltre 2021 (FA) $2.4 million

LHP Ricky Romero 2005 1st (6th) $2.4 M

RHP T.J. Zeuch 2016 1st (21st) $2.175 M

SS Felipe Lopez 1998 1st (8th) $2 M

RHP Deck McGuire, 2010 1st (11th) $2 M

LHP Daniel Norris, 2011 2nd (74th) $2 M

LHP Matt Smoral, 2012 1st (50th) $2 M

INF Tucker Toman 2022 2nd $2 M

RHP Jon Harris, 2015 1st (29nd) $1,944,800

OF Gabe Gross 2001 1st (17th) $1.865 M

RHP C.J. Van Eyk 2020 2nd $1,797,500

SS Russ Adams 2002 1st (14th) $1.785 M

OF D.J. Davis 2012 1st (17th) $1.75 M

OF Travis Snider 2006 1st (14th) $1.7 M

SS Aaron Hill 2003 1st (13th) $1.675 M

RHP Kevin Comer 2011 1st (57th) $1.65 M

OF Vernon Wells 1997 1st (5th) $1.6 M

LHP David Purcey 2004 1st (16th) $1.6 M

RHP Kendall Williams 2019 2nd (52nd) $1,547,500

1B David Cooper 2008 1st (18th) $1.5 M

C Hagen Danner, 2017 2nd (61st) $1.5 M

RHP Roberto Osuna 2011 FA $1.5 M

SS Dickie Joe Thon 2010 5th (156th) $1.5 M

RHP Billy Koch 1996 1st (4th) $1.45 M

3B Kevin Ahrens 2007 1st (16th) $1,440,000

RHP Eric Pardinho 2017 (FA) $1.4 million

RHP Chad Jenkins 2009 1st (20th) $1.359 M

OF Griffin Conine, 2018 2nd (52nd) $1.35 M

C J.P. Arencibia 2007 1st (21st) $1.3275 M

3B Balbino Fuenmayor 2006 (FA) $1.2

INF Bo Bichette 2016 2nd (66th) $1.1 M

LHP Zach Jackson 2004 1st (32nd) $1.017 M

OF Jake Marisnick 2009 3rd (104) $1 M

INF Josh Kasevich 2022 2nd $1 M

OF Jacob Anderson 2011 1st (35th) $990,000

RHP Roy Halladay 1995 1st (17th) $975,000

OF J.B. Woodman 2016 2nd (57th) $975,000

OF Miguel Negron 2000 1st (18th) $950,000

RHP Dustin McGowan 2000 1st (33rd) $950,000

SS Joe Lawrence 1996 1st (16th) $907,500

RHP Trent Palmer 2020 3rd (77th) Jacksonville $847,500

OF Alexis Rios 1999 1st (19th) $845,000

INF Cade Doughty 2022 2nd $833,600

The Citadel’s RHP Asher Wojciechowski was a first rounder in 2010

RHP Asher Wojciechowski 2010 1st (41st) $815,400

LHP Brett Cecil 2007 1st (38th) $810,000

LHP Griffin Murphy 2010 2nd (61st) $800,000

C Guillermo Quiroz, 1998 FA $800,000

RHP Peter Bauer 1998 2nd (45th) $800,000

OF Dwight Smith Jr. 2011 1st (53rd) $800,000

SS Christian Lopes 2011 7th (229th) $800,000

OF Dasan Brown 2019 3rd (88th) $797,500

RHP Aaron Sanchez 2010 1st (34th) $775,000

SS Joesphang Bernhardt 1997 FA $770,000

SS Miguel Hiraldo, 2017 FA $750,000.

3B Matt Dean 2011 13th (409th) $737,500

OF Shawn Green 1991 1st (16th) $725,000

LHP Diegomar Markwell 1996 FA $705,000

RHP Jose Pett 1992 FA $700,000

RHP Chris Carpenter 1993 1st (15th) $580,000

OF Alan Roden 2022 3rd $497,500

INF Kevin Witt 1993 qst (25th) $470,000

RHP Nick Frasso 2020 4th $459,000

OF Shannon Stewart 1992 (19th) $450,000

OF Todd Steverson 1992 (25th) $450,000

C Jonathan Peguero 2021 (FA) $400,000

OF Yeuni Muñoz 2021 (FA) $315,000

LHP Mason Fluharty 2022 5th $222,500

LHP Kendry Rojas 2020 (FA) $215,000

RHP Nolan Perry 2022 12th $200,000

C Sammy Hernandez 2022 14th $200,000

(Bold indicates big-league time.)