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2008 Amateur Draft

Odds and Ends: Botts, Red Sox, McLouth

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Roundup of links!

  • According to Jamey Newberg, Jason Botts has cleared waivers.  He probably won’t get another chance with the Rangers though.
  • Gordon Edes notes that the Red Sox have five picks in the first three rounds of the June draft.  Even though they don’t start until the 30th pick, the Sox have had much success in recent years.
  • No extension talks have begun with Nate McLouth, but Dejan Kovacevic does expect it to happen.
  • I updated the fantasy baseball closers depth chart over at RotoAuthority.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Freddy Garcia is "progressing nicely" in rehab and will throw off a mound about a week from now.
  • Marc Topkin wonders if the Rays should consider Jason Michaels (among others) if they aren’t satisfied with their current right field options.

Royals Mulling Options For No. 3 Pick

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In MLB.com articles here and here, Dick Kaegel attempts to decipher the Royals’ plans for their #3 pick in the June draft.

Comments from Royals’ scouting director Deric Ladnier have been understandably cryptic.  Kaegel’s interpretation is that the Royals will lean toward a college power hitter such as Pedro Alvarez (if available) or Justin Smoak.  Top pitchers as well as catchers Kyle Skipworth and Buster Posey can’t be ruled out though.  First baseman Eric Hosmer has been suggested as another possibility; it’s still wide open.

Odds and Ends: Doue, Furcal, Kuroda

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Here are today’s links.

Law On Hosmer, Alvarez Bonus Demands

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ESPN’s Keith Law has a new blog post discussing possible bonus demands for a couple of projected first-round picks.

  • Law says high school first baseman Eric Hosmer has a "reported demand" of $7MM.  Hosmer is advised by Scott Boras.  Law says Hosmer would go in the #5-8 range if not for his price tag.  Could he fall to the Nationals, Rangers, or A’s if one of those teams is willing to pony up?
  • Corner infielder Pedro Alvarez might be looking for something in $8.6MM range.  Some folks think the Rays will pass but the Pirates will make a splash and take Alvarez.

Rays Could Take Catcher No. 1 Overall

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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 to draft for their "biggest organizational weakness."

It seems that the experts’ expectation for the Rays’ pick is Beckham, but we’ll keep you updated in the coming months.

Odds and Ends: Klesko, Street, Davis

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I’ve got a slew of links for you.

2008 Draft: Philadelphia Phillies

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We’ll be looking at the 2008 draft over the next few months here at MLBTR. Mike Arbuckle, the Phillies assistant GM, took some questions from fans regarding the draft and the team’s farm system. Here are the highlights:

  • When asked what positions the Phils are seeking, Arbuckle gave the right answer. "You have to be very careful about trying to draft toward a particular position, simply because of the time it takes to develop players to get to the big leagues…So you try to draft the best available player in each round, the guy that we would view as having the highest ceiling."
  • On the slotting system: "I think generally we have been a club and are a club that tries to do what’s best for the industry." The Phillies have generally stayed within the vicinity of slot.
  • On college players vs. high school players: "In comparing high school to college players, generally the college player is nearer to being the finished product. So you can’t project as much on a college player as you would a high school player."
  • On the Phillies farm system: "I think the strength is double-A down, so I think our better prospects are younger kids."

Arbuckle was noncommittal when asked about what the team plans to do with Pat Burrell when the season is over. He also gives some takes on specific players in the Phillies system.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski .

Stark’s Latest: Stanton, Hamels

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up.

  • The Rays may have a pitching surplus when Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza return in May.  Teams will probably be eyeing Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, and Andy Sonnanstine – not that the Rays are anxious to give them up.  Jackson seems least likely to go.  If I had to pick a team deficiency perhaps it would be their middle infielders.
  • The Phillies have "mild interest" in Mike Stanton, who would like to play for them.  The Phils already inked Steve Kline to a minor league deal though.
  • The Braves are looking for relief help, as you might expect.  Here’s my available relievers list from April 7th; one addition might be Derrick Turnbow. 
  • Stark sees little chance of the Phillies signing Cole Hamels to an extension.  He notes that Hamels’ agent has demonstrated an aversion to club options for free agent years.  If the Phils just want to buy out the three arbitration years, the going rate is $13.75MM for young starters.
  • For the first time this year, top-rated amateur players will be tested for drugs prior to the draft.  It will be nice to nip the problem in the bud with some guys. 

Giants May Draft A Pitcher With Fifth Pick

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The Giants have the fifth overall pick in the June draft.  It’s a shame teams can’t trade picks, because the San Francisco’s needs don’t really match up with the likely best available talent.

Jim Callis provided interesting speculation in issue 0808 of Baseball America’s print magazine.  Callis suggested that the Giants may lean toward pitching in June even though the best available talent will be at first base.  This is because top prospect Angel Villalona is moving from third to first and the Giants may not want to create a future logjam.

Callis tossed out three possible pitchers for the Giants for the fifth pick: Tim Melville, Christian Friedrich, and Tanner Scheppers.

June Draft Order

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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.

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