Well, it seems as though the top pick for the Rays will come down to two players: Tim Beckham or Buster Posey. Doesn't it seem a little unfair that the second-best team in the AL gets the first pick? I know it was from last year, but this is one of the weird things about the MLB draft. They have it in the summer but base it on the previous season. They can't stop it now (nor should they really), but I just think it's odd (maybe another reason why Shyster loves baseball?). Anyway, here's my opinion for who they should pick:
For Tim Beckham
He's 18 years old. He can play shortstop and can actually stay there, which is tough to find. It's been said that he has some trouble turning on the ball but has plus power potential (Miguel Tejada?), but I think 3 years in the minors can correct his swing. Most scouts think he has a solid average to plus arm and good hands. Scouts think of him as a five-tool player (maybe the reason he'll be selected so high), but he already has some headiness about him, which is also tough to find in a high school player.
For the Rays, they have Jason Bartlett at short right now, so they could use an upgrade to Bartlett's offense. Yet, chances are that Beckham won't be quite as good defensively. In the minors, Reid Brignac is the No.2 prospect in the organization, and he has been tearing up AAA. Maybe they should have brought him up to see how he faired. Oh well, one can never have too many good shortstops. Maybe Brignac or Beckham can move to second when they give up on Iwamura.
For Buster Posey
He's 21, so he's likely as old as Beckham could be when he reaches the majors. However, he has already played against advanced competition in college and can be rushed through the system. Scouts say he has decent power but won't top 20 in a season. However, he has a good approach at the plate and uses the whole field, which could mean a .300 BA for a catcher. Defensively, Posey is a mystery as he has a good arm but doesn't show it in games, and because he was originally a shortstop, he is a little behind as far as catcher techiniques go. Nice thing for the team that picks him, Russell Martin wasn't a catcher to begin with, so it seems as though experience may be all Posey needs.
As for the Rays, Dioner Navarro is their catcher now. Navarro is a good defender but generally bad offensively, but this season Navarro is having a solid season at and behind the plate. At 24, he's still really young and will probably improve. In the Rays' system, there seem to be no alternatives that could displace Navarro or block Posey.
Well, tough (but nice) decision for the Rays. Do you take the shortstop that you don't need but has the better tools, age, and potential or the catcher that could be a need, has some tools (lots for a catcher), experience, and could be in the majors in two years. Honestly, I take Beckham. I'm a sucker for youth, so having a great young player at age 18 just seems to easy of a choice. He'll take longer to get to the majors, but he'll probably be better than Posey once he gets there. In the majors, he might have to shift to second, but that would be an incredible middle infield. Decent catchers usually come cheaper than decent shortstops in free agency, so Beckham again seems to be the better choice. Also, because of Navarro's youth and good start, it will make it easier to choose Beckham.
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