Who do you think the Rays are going to pick 1st overall? Some names out there are: SS Tim Beckham- High School 3B- Pedro Alvarez- Vanderbilt C Buster Posey- FSU- Played all 9 positions in one game 1B Justin Smoak- South Carolina P- Brian Matusz- San Diego With the Rays picking David Price last year with the 1st overall pick and the the starting rotation doing great, the only pitching position needed is a powerful closer in 2 years, which I doubt the Rays would spend a 1st overall pick on. Down the line the Rays are going to need help at SS or 2B, RF, and maybe 1B. Alvarez is a good player but has two knocks against him, he is represented by Scott Boras and the Rays already have a franchise 3B. Beckham looks like a 5 tool SS, and Posey looks like a franchise catcher. I like Navarro too much to draft Posey and think the Rays should draft Beckham for SS bring him up in 2-3 years and have top prospect Reid Brignac who plays SS be moved to take over 2B.
Take the pitcher. Not all of your prospects will pan out. Some will end up with TJ surgery. At worst, you can trade him for a superstar. And by "at worst" I mean "You have the top starting pitching, and this kid is not needed."
http://pgcrosschecker.com/2008/toptenlists/may/week17.aspx The link is about two weeks old, but it lists Posey as the Rays target for number one. Personally I think Smoak is going to be a big time hitter (he's probably the closest to the majors of the top available hitters) but I admit I don't know much about any of these guys. I'm hoping the Giants pick him even though as of right now their future at first is "set" (Angel Villalona, a young kid who they switched from third to first earlier this year).
