Chicago Cubs sign first-round pick to full slot value contract

The Chicago Cubs have signed first-round pick Cam Smith to a full-slot bonus contract, according to MLB Pipeline.

The deal is valued at $5.070 million, which was the slot value for the No. 14 overall pick.

Smith, who was an infielder at Florida State, posted a .387/.488/.654 batting average with 16 home runs this season. He is expected to play third baseman in the major leagues, meaning he will be in direct competition with Matt Shaw, last year’s first-round pick who is currently playing third baseman at Double-A Tennessee.

Shaw was selected to the All-ACC Freshman Team in 2023 with a batting average of .258, improving his batting average by more than 100 points.

He wasn’t the only Cubs signing reported on by MLB Pipeline.

The Cubs also reportedly signed their 12th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Daniel Avitia of Grand Canyon. He signed for $150,000. MLB Pipeline reports that as a pitcher who relies on the mix of his arsenal, he reaches 92 mph with his fastball but can dip below 80 mph with a slider.

He was 2-3 for GCU last season. His best season was 2023, when he went 7-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He left the Lopes with a career record of 17-9 with a 4.10 ERA.

The Cubs drafted him in the 19th round three years ago, straight out of high school. His brother Daniel is a catcher in the Cubs system.

The Cubs’ full list of 2024 MLB Draft picks can be found below.

(Round, Player, School, Position, Hitting/Throwing)

Round 1: Cam Smith, Florida State, 3B, R/R

Round 2: Cole Mathis, College of Charleston, 3B, R/R

Round 3: Ronny Cruz, Miami Christian School (FL), SS, S/R

Round 4: Ty Southisene, Basic HS (NV), SS, R/R

Round 5: Ariel Armas, University of San Diego, C, R/R

Round 6: Ryan Gallagher, UC Santa Barbara, P, L/R

Round 7: Ivan Brethowr, UC Santa Barbara, OF, R/R

Round 8: Edgar Alvarez, Nicholls State, 1B, L/R

Round 9: Brooks Caple, Lamar University, P, R/R

Round 10: Matt Halbach, UC San Diego, 3B, R/R

Round 11: Eli Lovich, Blue Valley West HS (KS), OF, L/L

Round 12: Daniel Avitia, Grand Canyon University, P, R/R

Round 13: Evan Aschenbeck, Texas A&M, P, R/L

Round 14: Cameron Sisneros, East Tennessee State, 1B, L/L

Round 15: Hayden Frank, Lipscomb University, P, R/L

Round 16: Christian Gordon, VCU, P, R/L

Round 17: Ben Johnson, Georgia Southern, P, R/R

Round 18: Thomas Mangus, Navarro College (TX), P, R/R

Round 19: Owen Ayers, Marshall, C, S/R

Round 20: Brayden Risedorph, Indiana, P, R/R