The Kansas City Royals locked up their number six overall pick, Zion Rose, for $5.8 million. That’s a massive check. But here’s the twist most fans miss. The team still has plenty of cash left to sign every other player they picked in the draft.
Rose played outfield at the University of Louisville. He signed a deal worth $5,809,574 according to Royals Review. The slot value for the sixth pick was actually higher at $7,746,100. This means the Royals saved money on their biggest splash. They didn’t go over the limit just to get a name.
The Bonus Pool Math
The team entered the draft lottery and landed a top-six pick. This gave them a larger bonus pool than usual. The total pot stands at $15,954,000 per Royals Review. Rose took about $5.8 million of that pot. That leaves roughly $10 million for the rest of the class.
Every pick in the first ten rounds has a set slot value. Teams can sign players above or below that number. After the tenth round, the value drops to $150,000. Anything above that small number must come out of the main pool. There are no savings if a team signs someone below the $150,000 mark.
Going over the pool triggers a heavy tax. A team exceeding their pool by 0-5 percent pays a 75 percent tax on the overage. If they go over by more than 5 percent, they lose a future first-round pick. The Royals exceeded their pool last year but stayed under the 5 percent threshold. They know the rules well.
The Undrafted Talent
The Royals aren’t just looking at high draft picks. They signed some undrafted free agents who bring serious skill. RHP Jackson Cleveland played 26 games for Oklahoma last season. He struck out 42 batters in 40.2 innings with a 5.31 ERA.
Cleveland started at Lamar University before moving to Miami. Then there is 2B Jimmy Nati. He’s an Australian native who played for Stanford. Nati posted a slash line of .253/.340/.451 with eight home runs and seven steals in 45 games this spring. He hit .300 with 16 home runs in 2025.
3B Ben North is a fifth-year senior from Creighton. The Minnesota native hit .319/.442/.556 with 11 homers and 26 steals in 57 games. He missed time his freshman year with a knee injury. He played 220 career games for the Blue Jays. The team wants these physicals passed in Arizona before the deadline.
Why This Matters
The deadline to sign all picks is July 27. The team must get these contracts done fast. If they fail to sign a player, that pick is lost. The Royals have the money to avoid that mistake. They used their lottery win to build a deep roster without breaking the bank.
This approach shows smart management. They got a star for less than the slot value. They saved cash for later rounds and undrafted gems. This is how a franchise builds for the long haul. The fan base gets a better team for the same price.
The team will update the draft bonus tracker as news trickles in. Fans should watch for the next signings. The window is open and the clock is ticking. The Royals are building a foundation that could last for years.
