Rays Sign First Round Pick Beckham

First! It is sad that Pedro Alvarez will probably get more than Beckham.

They should get a great player while they have the chance.

Alvarez didn't really impress this year. Not to mention that his ceiling is considerably lower.

"Alvarez didn't really impress this year. Not to mention that his ceiling is considerably lower."

That is just flat out untrue.

Alvarez won't give you elite power and will take up a corner infield spot. While Beckham will have the ability to give you flexibility in where you play him.

Thanks for the quick response

There are a lot of people who think Beckham is actually a safer bet to reach his upside, but Alvarez has a higher ceiling because of his power.

I think if the Rays call up Price in August, and then move Sonnanstine or Jackson to the bullpen, probably Jackson, it would be like a trade for a starter and a relief pitcher. Then all they would need is one outfielder and they would be going into the playoffs fully armored and weaponed.

Brignac could probably be the object of any trade the Rays would want to make.

Okay Okay I know the Rays have a great farm system. Does anyone else feel like, who wouldn't have a great farm system after having top ten picks the last eight or so years. Being the first franchise to have repeated number one picks. You don't get those draft spots without being horrible so is all the praise deserved?

That seems like a lot for the Rays to give up. I know Bay's all the rage right now, but I don't really see it.

As for the Rays system...You're right GMU, but that's the past. You still have to give credit where credit is due. Price, Beckham, and Upton were all top picks, but when you hit big on later picks like Davis, McGee, Royster, Brignac, etc. and make smart deals like Kazmir (and to a lesser and more arguable extent, Garza), you're talking about a good scouting team. However their past futility played into their current position, you still have to hit on your picks and the Rays have done so in a major way. I'm not a fan of the team, but I AM a great admirer of the way they've turned their awful history into a bright future. The D'backs and Brewers are two more examples of teams that have really used the draft process to their longterm benefit. I'm just hoping my O's are in the process of doing the same. Considering our purchasing power, I think it would be a great example of small-market player development on a bigger scale. Sadly, the Red Sox and Yankees are doing the same.

milehigh78:

I agree I do give them credit but the amount of slobbering over their farm system should also be accompanied with the price it took to get that way. Horrible ML teams, being sellers annually, no FA's of note, and fans suffering through all that loosing.

I'm not a fan of the Rays either, but the Nats seem to be following the same road except, (this is what ownership says) they will spend on FA's at some point. I'm just hoping the rebuilding doesn't take as long as it did with the Rays.

Btw it's going to be interesting to see the effects down the line. Because with all these star players eventually you will have to rise payroll to continually be good or sell again. Will they keep hitting when they sell and how will they adjust to having highed draft picks? etc, etc...

I totally agree with SBE. Bay would probably take at least two of those top prospects and then some. He is an all-star type while the prospects named might not even find success in the majors.

"Okay Okay I know the Rays have a great farm system. Does anyone else feel like, who wouldn't have a great farm system after having top ten picks the last eight or so years. Being the first franchise to have repeated number one picks. You don't get those draft spots without being horrible so is all the praise deserved?"

Cause high first rounders always workout great, right? :p
The first rounders are not the only reason why people give the Rays farm system so much love.
Take Niemann, Price and Beckham out of the system and it is still very good.