R. Soriano signs with Yankees

[Houston]

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6020119

Now set-up men are getting more than $10 million a year.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6020119

Now set-up men are getting more than $10 million a year.

He's not so much a set-up man as insurance against injury to a 42 (IIRC) year old closer.

[Ron Brand]

Not to mention the hand-picked heir to the job.

[Limey]

Arse-Sore-Eyano?  He had his initiation by Jeter already?

[Ty in Tampa]

Rays' fans here are in full-on meltdown mode. It's got to suck if you care.

[Gizzmonic]

Rays' fans here are in full-on meltdown mode. It's got to suck if you care.

Where were they when the Rays had to give away tickets to playoff games?

[Ty in Tampa]

Where were they when the Rays had to give away tickets to playoff games?

The fuck do I know? Ask them.

They didn't give away playoff tickets. It was the last home game.

[moriartp]

The Rays now pick at 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 51, 55, and 58. When Qualls officially signs elsewhere, they'll get pick 59. They're also getting two for Balfour: one supplemental round pick, and the A's second-rounder. Jesus.

(info from Jim Callis' Twitter)

[MusicMan]

The Rays now pick at 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 51, 55, and 58. When Qualls officially signs elsewhere, they'll get pick 59. They're also getting two for Balfour: one supplemental round pick, and the A's second-rounder. Jesus.

(info from Jim Callis' Twitter)

Thanks, Gerry.

[Ty in Tampa]

Tally.

Joaquin Beniot, three years, $16.5 million from the Tigers.

Randy Choate, two years, $2.5 million from the Marlins.

Carl Crawford, seven years, $142 million from the Red Sox.

Brad Hawpe, one year, $3 million from the Padres.

Dioner Navarro, one year, $1 million from the Dodgers.

Carlos Peña, one year, $10 million from the Cubs.

Rafael Soriano, three years, $35 million from the Yankees.

Dan Wheeler, one year, $3 million from the Red Sox.

[Ty in Tampa]

The Rays now pick at 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 51, 55, and 58. When Qualls officially signs elsewhere, they'll get pick 59. They're also getting two for Balfour: one supplemental round pick, and the A's second-rounder. Jesus.

(info from Jim Callis' Twitter)

Most nitwits here can't see the good in this.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Most nitwits here can't see the good in this.

Yep, just more money wasted on the draft.  If they really wanted to win, and earn my disposable cash, they'd sign some over-priced Free Agent.  Now THAT would show me they want to win!

[Bench]

The draft is overrated.

[Ty in Tampa]

Yep, just more money wasted on the draft.  If they really wanted to win, and earn my disposable cash, they'd sign some over-priced Free Agent.  Now THAT would show me they want to win!

Of course, the reality is that they became winners when they stopped doing that.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Of course, the reality is that they became winners when they stopped doing that.

Oh sure, bring up facts.  That's no way to win an argument!

[MusicMan]

Of course, the reality is that they became winners when they stopped doing that.

You know why you don't like us?  Because we're winners.
Winners like... North Vietnam?

[Limey]

Most nitwits here can't see the good in this.

What is witnit?

[OregonStrosFan]

The Rays now pick at 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 51, 55, and 58. When Qualls officially signs elsewhere, they'll get pick 59. They're also getting two for Balfour: one supplemental round pick, and the A's second-rounder. Jesus.

(info from Jim Callis' Twitter)

Final count: 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 42, 51, 55, 58, 59, 75, 88

The Rays have 10 (yes 10, 1 out of every 6 picks) in the first 60, and 12 through the first 88.  Amazing...

[Uncle Charlie]

FWIW

In 2006 this would be:
Cody Johnson - OF - Braves
Preston Mattingly - SS - Dodgers
Pedro Beato - P - Orioles
Cory Rasmus - P - Braves
Joba Chamberlain - P - Yankees
Chris Perez - P - Cardinals
Jeffrey Locke - P - Braves
Brett Anderson - P - DBacks
Ryan Adams - 3B - Orioles
Sean Black - P - Nats
Matt McBride - C - Indians
Chad Tracy - C - Rangers

In 2005 this would be:
Brian Bogusevic - P - Astros
Matt Torra - P - DBacks
Chaz Roe - P - Rockies
Eli Iorg - OF - Astros
Beau Jones - P - Braves
Clay Buckholz - P - RedSox
Ivan DeJesus - ss - Dodgers
Zach Simons - P - Rockies
Ryan Mount - ss - Angels
Brad Corley - of - Pirates
Yunel Escobar - ss - Braves
Bryan Morris - P - Rays

[Bench]

FWIW

In 2006 this would be:
Cody Johnson - OF - Braves
Preston Mattingly - SS - Dodgers
Pedro Beato - P - Orioles
Cory Rasmus - P - Braves
Joba Chamberlain - P - Yankees
Chris Perez - P - Cardinals
Jeffrey Locke - P - Braves
Brett Anderson - P - DBacks
Ryan Adams - 3B - Orioles
Sean Black - P - Nats
Matt McBride - C - Indians
Chad Tracy - C - Rangers

In 2005 this would be:
Brian Bogusevic - P - Astros
Matt Torra - P - DBacks
Chaz Roe - P - Rockies
Eli Iorg - OF - Astros
Beau Jones - P - Braves
Clay Buckholz - P - RedSox
Ivan DeJesus - ss - Dodgers
Zach Simons - P - Rockies
Ryan Mount - ss - Angels
Brad Corley - of - Pirates
Yunel Escobar - ss - Braves
Bryan Morris - P - Rays

Thanks for that.  Context is a good thing.

[Jacksonian]

Final count: 24, 31, 32, 38, 41, 42, 51, 55, 58, 59, 75, 88

The Rays have 10 (yes 10, 1 out of every 6 picks) in the first 60, and 12 through the first 88.  Amazing...

That's, what, $8 mil or so in signing bonuses before the third round for guys as seen above who have a substantial washout or underperformance rate.

[austro]

That's, what, $8 mil or so in signing bonuses before the third round for guys as seen above who have a substantial washout or underperformance rate.

What's Tampa's underperformance/washout rate on their 1st and 2nd round picks over the last few years? That's probably more relevant than the league-average performance.

[Bench]

What's Tampa's underperformance/washout rate on their 1st and 2nd round picks over the last few years? That's probably more relevant than the league-average performance.

Good point.  Here's a list of the Rays' draft picks by year.  Longoria and Price were their first round picks in 2006 and 2007, which obviously turned out well.  They were very high first round picks, of course.  I haven't really heard of any of their second round picks.

 

[OregonStrosFan]

I don't think their picks in the top 10 are too instructive on how they will do (a lot of no brainers there), but they've had some so-so picks thereafter (a couple of potential gems though...).

1st round picks (Baseball-Reference.com) from 15 down include: Josh Sale, Drew Vettison

2nd round picks (Baseball-Reference.com) include: Carl Crawford, Reid Brignac, Derek Dietrich;

3rd round picks (Baseball-Reference.com) include: Wade Davis, Andrew Miller, Elijah Dukes (Hellickson was a 4th round pick)

[OregonStrosFan]

Good point.  Here's a list of the Rays' draft picks by year.  Longoria and Price were their first round picks in 2006 and 2007, which obviously turned out well.  They were very high first round picks, of course.  I haven't really heard of any of their second round picks.

It ain't that hard to hit on some really good players when you've had 8 top 4 picks in the past 10 seasons (including 4 #1 picks overall).

[Bench]

It ain't that hard to hit on some really good players when you've had 8 top 4 picks in the past 10 seasons (including 4 #1 picks overall).

I absolutely agree. 

[austro]

Good point.  Here's a list of the Rays' draft picks by year.  Longoria and Price were their first round picks in 2006 and 2007, which obviously turned out well.  They were very high first round picks, of course.  I haven't really heard of any of their second round picks.

Wow, I forgot about the Wade Townsend pick in 2005. Oops. But overall, they don't appear to have been any more (or less) prescient than anybody else.

[OregonStrosFan]

But overall, they don't appear to have been any more (or less) prescient than anybody else.

I agree, but was surprised when I saw it...

[Jacksonian]

Wow, I forgot about the Wade Townsend pick in 2005. Oops. But overall, they don't appear to have been any more (or less) prescient than anybody else.

You can screwup a draft easily by not doing your homework.  Once you've done your due diligence, it's a crapshoot.

[MusicMan]

It ain't that hard to hit on some really good players when you've had 8 top 4 picks in the past 10 seasons (including 4 #1 picks overall).

Counterargument

[Bench]

Counterargument

Cam Bonifay:  The blind squirrel with no nuts.

[Guinness]

Counterargument

Hey, Richie Hebner as a great pick

[MusicMan]

Cam Bonifay:  The blind squirrel with no nuts.

Let's not get too proud of ourselves

[EasTexAstro]

Counterargument

Barry Bonds wasn't too bad.

[Lurch]

You can screwup a draft easily by not doing your homework.  Once you've done your due diligence, it's a crapshoot.

That's a great summarization