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 The Blue Jays have been one of Major League Baseball’s most aggressive teams through free agency over the last several off-seasons and the strategy comes with a cost that goes well beyond the bank account of ownership group Rogers Communications.For the second time in three years, the Jays are preparing for the annual MLB draft without the luxury of a second-round pick. In 2021, it was taken away as punishment for signing qualified free-agent outfielder George Springer and this year it was forfeited to sign veteran starter Chris Bassitt.The Jays will select 20th when Round 1 gets underway Sunday night and then not again until the 89th-overall pick comes around in Round 3. Their total bonus pool allotment of $6,529,700 is the fifth lowest in the draft and almost $10 million below that of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who own the first selection.“It’s certainly different, but also familiar,” said Blue Jays director of amateur scouting Shane Farrell, who is about to oversee his fourth draft. “In 2021, we didn’t have a second-round pick, so it gave us an idea of what to expect and maybe how to better use our time this year. Using our resources, our manpower and scheduling our looks a little differently throughout the country.”Each pick in the first 10 rounds comes with a recommended slot value and then each teams’ slots are added up to create the total bonus pool. Per MLB, teams that outspend their allotment by 0-5 per cent pay a 75 per cent tax on the overage. No team has exceeded five per cent since the cap system went into effect 11 years ago, but if one did it would face even stiffer financial penalties and the forfeiture of picks.Teams with high bonus pools have the luxury of being able to get creative. It’s common for those clubs to have their first pick or two sign below-slot deals so they have more money to spend in the later rounds when some extra cash could persuade a prospect to turn pro instead of going to college. The Jays won’t be able to do much of that. Their top pick has a recommended slot of $3,746,000 and by the time they’re on the clock again that figure will drop to $771,500. Compare that to the Pirates, who have an assigned slot value of $9.7 million for the first pick and another $2 million for the second round.“I don’t think your appetite for risk really changes, given the bonus pool or the number of picks you hold in a given year,” Farrell said. “Our process remains the same: to get the best player available in each round and stay committed and disciplined to the work that we do in the week leading up to the draft.”With the annual draft set to begin Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, here’s a closer look at what the Jays’ needs are and who they might be targeting in the days ahead:First-round rumoursIn its latest mock draft, MLB Pipeline suggested the Jays will take a long look at lefty Thomas White, who is looking to become the first high school arm out of Massachusetts to be taken in the first round since Tyler Beede in 2011. If that were to happen, the Jays’ top three prospects would all be left-handed pitchers with White joining Ricky Tiedemann and last year’s top pick Brandon Barriera.The Athletic’s Keith Law envisions the Jays going in another direction and drafting third baseman Aidan Miller. The 19-year-old missed most of his senior year of high school because of a broken hamate bone but has seen his stock rise in recent weeks thanks to some strong workouts.Another possibility is the Jays go with a college bat, particularly if someone projected to go in the top 15 falls into their laps. If University of Mississippi shortstop Jacob Gonzalez or Wake Forest University third baseman Brock Wilken are still on the board when the Jays pick they might be hard to pass up. The shopping listThe Jays typically target the best player available in each round, but it would come as a nice bonus if a couple of those guys end up being outfielders. The Jays have just three regular outfielders among their top prospects — Gabriel Martinez, Dasan Brown and Enmanuel Bonilla — and none are expected to be ready until at least 2025.Pitching is an annual priority and this draft will be no different. The Jays’ top three prospects are pitchers and six of their top 10 are as well. Considering how volatile the position is, the Jays are guaranteed to purchase several high-profile lottery tickets on the mound again next week.In the ShowThis might seem hard to believe, but the Jays currently only have seven players on the big-league roster who were drafted and developed internally. Three of the players on that list — Danny Jansen, Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano — were picked by the previous regime. Two others — Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio — were taken by Brian Parker, who was hired by Alex Anthopoulos and then dumped by Ross Atkins shortly after completing his first draft under the new front office.That means the only active players the new regime has been solely responsible for drafting and selecting are righties Nate Pearson and Alek Manoah. It’s worth noting, that group does not include international free agent signings like Alejandro Kirk or prospects who were dealt away to upgrade the big-league roster.Recent first-rounders2022: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage (Fla.) (No. 23) — Class A Dunedin2021: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi (No. 19) — Traded to Oakland in deal for Matt Chapman2020: Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt (No. 5) — Traded to Minnesota in deal for Jose Berrios2019: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia (No. 11) — Probable pitcher on Friday vs. Detroit2018: Jordan Groshans, SS, Magnolia HS (Texas) (No. 12) — Traded to Miami in deal for Zach Pop and Anthony Bass Canadian contentThe Naylor family will make history this weekend should a third sibling get selected in the first round. The oldest brother, Josh, was taken No. 12 overall by the Marlins in 2015 and Bo followed three years later when he was taken 29th overall by Cleveland. Now it’s Myles’s turn and while he’s ranked as the 64th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, there’s an outside chance the Mississauga product could go in Round 1. Stephen (2004), J.D. (1997 and ’98) and Tim Drew (1997) were the only other trio of brothers to be taken in the first round.Quotable“Broadly, I think it’s a deep class. If you look around at the different demographics, there’s depth, definitely on the position player side. I think the college position players and the high school position players there’s going to be some depth to give some length to those Day 1 picks.” — Farrell on his impression of this year’s Draft class.Gregor Chisholm is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @GregorChisholm or reach him via email: gchisholm@thestar.ca 

The Blue Jays have been one of Major League Baseball’s most aggressive teams through free agency over the last several off-seasons and the strategy comes with a cost that goes well beyond the bank account of ownership group Rogers Communications.

For the second time in three years, the Jays are preparing for the annual MLB draft without the luxury of a second-round pick. In 2021, it was taken away as punishment for signing qualified free-agent outfielder George Springer and this year it was forfeited to sign veteran starter Chris Bassitt.

The Jays will select 20th when Round 1 gets underway Sunday night and then not again until the 89th-overall pick comes around in Round 3. Their total bonus pool allotment of $6,529,700 is the fifth lowest in the draft and almost $10 million below that of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who own the first selection.

“It’s certainly different, but also familiar,” said Blue Jays director of amateur scouting Shane Farrell, who is about to oversee his fourth draft. “In 2021, we didn’t have a second-round pick, so it gave us an idea of what to expect and maybe how to better use our time this year. Using our resources, our manpower and scheduling our looks a little differently throughout the country.”

Each pick in the first 10 rounds comes with a recommended slot value and then each teams’ slots are added up to create the total bonus pool. Per MLB, teams that outspend their allotment by 0-5 per cent pay a 75 per cent tax on the overage. No team has exceeded five per cent since the cap system went into effect 11 years ago, but if one did it would face even stiffer financial penalties and the forfeiture of picks.

Teams with high bonus pools have the luxury of being able to get creative. It’s common for those clubs to have their first pick or two sign below-slot deals so they have more money to spend in the later rounds when some extra cash could persuade a prospect to turn pro instead of going to college.

The Jays won’t be able to do much of that. Their top pick has a recommended slot of $3,746,000 and by the time they’re on the clock again that figure will drop to $771,500. Compare that to the Pirates, who have an assigned slot value of $9.7 million for the first pick and another $2 million for the second round.

“I don’t think your appetite for risk really changes, given the bonus pool or the number of picks you hold in a given year,” Farrell said. “Our process remains the same: to get the best player available in each round and stay committed and disciplined to the work that we do in the week leading up to the draft.”

With the annual draft set to begin Sunday at 8 p.m. ET, here’s a closer look at what the Jays’ needs are and who they might be targeting in the days ahead:

First-round rumours

In its latest mock draft, MLB Pipeline suggested the Jays will take a long look at lefty Thomas White, who is looking to become the first high school arm out of Massachusetts to be taken in the first round since Tyler Beede in 2011. If that were to happen, the Jays’ top three prospects would all be left-handed pitchers with White joining Ricky Tiedemann and last year’s top pick Brandon Barriera.

The Athletic’s Keith Law envisions the Jays going in another direction and drafting third baseman Aidan Miller. The 19-year-old missed most of his senior year of high school because of a broken hamate bone but has seen his stock rise in recent weeks thanks to some strong workouts.

Another possibility is the Jays go with a college bat, particularly if someone projected to go in the top 15 falls into their laps. If University of Mississippi shortstop Jacob Gonzalez or Wake Forest University third baseman Brock Wilken are still on the board when the Jays pick they might be hard to pass up.

The shopping list

The Jays typically target the best player available in each round, but it would come as a nice bonus if a couple of those guys end up being outfielders. The Jays have just three regular outfielders among their top prospects — Gabriel Martinez, Dasan Brown and Enmanuel Bonilla — and none are expected to be ready until at least 2025.

Pitching is an annual priority and this draft will be no different. The Jays’ top three prospects are pitchers and six of their top 10 are as well. Considering how volatile the position is, the Jays are guaranteed to purchase several high-profile lottery tickets on the mound again next week.

In the Show

This might seem hard to believe, but the Jays currently only have seven players on the big-league roster who were drafted and developed internally. Three of the players on that list — Danny Jansen, Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano — were picked by the previous regime. Two others — Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio — were taken by Brian Parker, who was hired by Alex Anthopoulos and then dumped by Ross Atkins shortly after completing his first draft under the new front office.

That means the only active players the new regime has been solely responsible for drafting and selecting are righties Nate Pearson and Alek Manoah. It’s worth noting, that group does not include international free agent signings like Alejandro Kirk or prospects who were dealt away to upgrade the big-league roster.

Recent first-rounders

2022: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage (Fla.) (No. 23) — Class A Dunedin

2021: Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Mississippi (No. 19) — Traded to Oakland in deal for Matt Chapman

2020: Austin Martin, SS, Vanderbilt (No. 5) — Traded to Minnesota in deal for Jose Berrios

2019: Alek Manoah, RHP, West Virginia (No. 11) — Probable pitcher on Friday vs. Detroit

2018: Jordan Groshans, SS, Magnolia HS (Texas) (No. 12) — Traded to Miami in deal for Zach Pop and Anthony Bass

Canadian content

The Naylor family will make history this weekend should a third sibling get selected in the first round. The oldest brother, Josh, was taken No. 12 overall by the Marlins in 2015 and Bo followed three years later when he was taken 29th overall by Cleveland. Now it’s Myles’s turn and while he’s ranked as the 64th overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, there’s an outside chance the Mississauga product could go in Round 1. Stephen (2004), J.D. (1997 and ’98) and Tim Drew (1997) were the only other trio of brothers to be taken in the first round.

Quotable

“Broadly, I think it’s a deep class. If you look around at the different demographics, there’s depth, definitely on the position player side. I think the college position players and the high school position players there’s going to be some depth to give some length to those Day 1 picks.” — Farrell on his impression of this year’s Draft class.

Gregor Chisholm is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @GregorChisholm or reach him via email: gchisholm@thestar.ca