Tim Beckham Rumors

Rays Sign First Round Pick Beckham

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Rays have signed their #1 overall pick, high school shortstop Tim Beckham, for $6.15MM. With Beckham setting the stage, perhaps more top picks will get deals done soon. The Rays just have an embarrassment of riches at this point. They are positioned for a long, long run of excellence.   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Beckham, Rangers, Peterson, Drew

A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse... Marc Lancaster is reporting that Tim Beckham, the top pick of the Rule 4 draft, will be visiting Tropicana Field at the end of the week and his father believes that a deal will be in place by the end of the weekend. The rest of the first rounders could sign quickly once Beckham and the Rays set the benchmark. Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers will have a hard time making trades because their farm system is so deep. The Rays might have the same problem. Jeff Passan names his All-Overpaid...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Beckham, Bedard, Bonds, Mulder

Lots of high profile players in today's Odds & Ends: The Rays have opened contract discussions with first overall pick Tim Beckham, says Marc Topkin. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Sports Tribune suggests we add Erik Bedard to the list of starting pitchers who may be available at the trade deadline. More appropriately, Rogers also notes the M's will most likely hold on to Bedard through 2009, a far more likely outcome. Also in the longshot rumor department, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle speculates on Barry Bonds playing for the Red Sox. Personally, I would predict there's a...   Continue Reading

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Draft Day Roundup

The draft is just four hours away. We'll be live-blogging it here at MLBTR. Here are today's draft links. Baseball America's brand new top 30 projections. According to Keith Law, Mariners doctors gave the thumbs up on Tanner Scheppers and the team could take him at #20. Law says the Nationals seem to be debating between Kyle Skipworth and Aaron Crow at #9. Law adds that first baseman Yonder Alonso has an $8MM rumored asking price, which could cause him to drop. Alonso is roughly the 11th-best player in the draft, combining various expert rankings. Speaking of huge demands, Buster...   Continue Reading

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Beckham A Top Two Lock?

Dejan Kovacevic talked to Tim Beckham's father, Jimmy. Jimmy Beckham says the family has met only with the Rays and Pirates, and he expects his son to be drafted by one of those two clubs. I'm surprised they are so certain. Isn't it possible that the Rays draft Buster Posey and the Bucs opt for Pedro Alvarez?   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: 2008 Amateur Draft

With last year's top pick, David Price, making his pro debut yesterday, we are now two weeks from the 2008 "Rule 4 Draft" and the top of the draft is not as clear this time around. There are five candidates that could go in the top slot: Buster Posey, the FSU catcher; Vanderbilt's third baseman Pedro Alvarez; San Diego lefty Brian Matusz; Southern California high school catcher Kyle Skipworth, and Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham. Earlier this week we heard that the Rays were leaning towards Posey or Alvarez, while the Pirates were said to be torn between Alvarez...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Griffey, Baek, German, Wells

Here's today's link collection. Hal McCoy seems fairly certain that Ken Griffey Jr. will play out the season with the Reds. Dejan Kovacevic has heard that the Pirates are torn between Pedro Alvarez and Tim Beckham at #2. Cha Seung Baek has been DFA'd, and this time he might be claimed. He could have a career as a fifth starter somewhere. John Brattain explains why he feels teams are colluding against Barry Bonds. The Rangers DFA'd reliever Franklyn German; Evan Grant explains why. The Indians claimed reliever Oneli Perez from the White Sox. Baseball America says the six-fingered pitcher has...   Continue Reading

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Rays Could Take Catcher No. 1 Overall

In a recent blog post, ESPN's Peter Gammons told us not to be surprised if the Rays take Florida State catcher Buster Posey first overall in the June draft. Posey, a former shortstop, has the skills and frame to behind the plate in his career. Baseball America's Jim Callis recently analyzed the Rays' most likely options (print issue 0809). He doesn't see the Rays choosing Boras-represented corner infielder Pedro Alvarez. Pitchers Brian Matusz and Aaron Crow and shortstop Tim Beckham are the top talents after Alvarez. Callis, like Gammons, notes that the Rays could go for Posey if they choose...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Alfonzo, Hill, Kline, Reitsma

Time for a link roundup. SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Mets have talked with Edgardo Alfonzo. Alfonzo, 34, came up a Met and snagged MVP votes in 2000 with a .967 OPS. Seems like Aaron Hill's contract extension may wait until after the season, when his offensive value is more clearly established. No interest in Steve Kline yet...teams will probably wait the Giants out so they don't have to pay his $1.75MM salary. If Chris Reitsma doesn't make a decision soon about heading to Triple A, the Ms could place him on the restricted list. Dejan Kovacevic hasn't heard anything...   Continue Reading

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June Draft Order

Baseball America's Jim Callis has the June '08 draft order, with supplemental and compensation picks accounted for. The Rays have another #1 pick - who's it going to be? Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein expects the Rays to pick corner infielder Pedro Alvarez, shortstop Tim Beckham, or starter Aaron Crow. Here's a scouting perspective on Crow, by the way.   Continue Reading

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