What do you gusy budget for Prospect payroll?

I've been at 17...thinking about going to 14 or so.  IFA guys are dang expensive (WAY overpaid) anyway.  And doesn't only take 6 or 7 to sign all draftees/
Anyway...what do you budget/

8 or 30, depending on if I have it available.

Depending on the supplemental choices, I would go 15-20 and spend all not on draft choices on ONE international stud.

of course, the money you spend on international prospects has to be x 2 to pay for the international scouting, too. i'm going opt out of the international market for awhile to save $. put more into HS and COL scouting, opt out of the 30m+ per player on the int'l scene.

Just went back over the last 10 years of IFA signings for my team.  Basically you have to pay $10m to get a guaranteed MLB in-the-line-up guy.

$5M or so gets you "maybe" player.

Over that time, I've acquired 4 guys who have contributed.  A slick fielding SS who can't hit a lick (-.600OPS), for $2m.  A back-up 3B/COF...who hits lefties OK.  He gets about 200-250 PA's each year for the last 3.  He was about $5M.  I got a #5-7 type pitcher.  he started one year...got in about 150 innings.  Currently a long guy, emergency starter (actually, probably my #8 starter).  Lifetime EAR of just under 4.00/WHIP of 1.3.  He was about $8M.

I have a OF/1B who has hit well in AAA who might be my 1B this year.  he was relatively cheap at $3.5M.  Could be a real bargain.  I have a AAA catcher who is a good MLB backup...and could start in some lineups.

I did have a very good 1B.  He cost me $10M.  But i've traded him away. i did get a couple of players for him...he was a good signing. But it took $10M to do it! 

that's it.  Rest are AAAA types...or worse.

Not a lot to brag on for about $17 million of prospect payroll and 12-13M of scouting each year.

But if you're not in the bottom 10 in the standings, the int'l market is usually the only way to get top talent outside of making trades (unless there is just an amazing draft class one year).

Yep