 |
|
|
| |
« Young Red Sox Strike Back | Main | Pedro Not Considering Retirement »
Rays Leaning Toward Posey Or Alvarez?
Today from Buster Olney's blog:
I talked to a couple of folks with rival teams who say that their understanding is that Tampa Bay is leaning toward picking either Florida State catcher Buster Posey or Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez.
Olney apparently hasn't heard much about the Rays considering shortstop Tim Beckham, though other insiders such as Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo have him in the mix. Mayo says "it's still very much in the air" among five candidates for the Rays.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e200e5528206e28834
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Rays Leaning Toward Posey Or Alvarez?:
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
Damn. I hope the Rays don't go with Alvarez. I don't know... On the one hand, I guess they could figure it's the last time they're going to pick this early for a LOOOONG time, so why not take the consensus top bat available; someone who could potentially replace Pena at first in a couple of years (presumably moving him to DH or leaving room for a trade). On the other hand, I figured that, with the system so loaded and Alvarez currently being a 3B and costing crazy loot, they'd go the development route with a major tools guy likely to take time, but having a huge upside- Beckham. Furthermore, SS is THE place to draft for the future; among the toughest positions to fill with a real stud AND Brignac is no sure thing anyway.
Posey, of course, is the other option and will be the pick if they're going strictly on need.
I'm still saying the Rays take Posey, Bucs go Beckham, KC takes Crow (or Matusz), Baltimore nabs Alvarez, and San Fran picks Smoak or Beckham (depending on whether they think one of Villalona or Smoak could effectively move to left...or third), but I'm no longer confident.
Posted by: milehigh78 | May 22, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I have to agree with the notion of picking Alvarez. He could be put in right field. Posey makes sense too. I would not pick Beckham personally. The Rays are in it to win it and need all the near help they can get.
I can understand your wanting Alvarez to fall to the O's though. I feel the same about Smoak. I think that my wish is more likely to come true, though. The good news is that the O's will get someone really good no matter what.
Posted by: gogopalehose | May 22, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I personally don't think they rays will be picking Alvarez. I agree with milehigh, the question is wether the Rays mangement wants to risk ruining their future all-star (Longorian) with the thoughts that he's not in Tampa for the long-haul by bringing in another guy, or messing with Alvarez's head in moving him somewhere else.
If those guys can pull it off, and that's the direction the Rays take it will be a stacked lineup in 3 or so years. But if they take Posey, they solidify any doubt's about their intentions which should be to make this team a well rounded competitive machine.
Posted by: AriGoldisaG | May 22, 2008 at 06:57 PM