Boooooooo! Pirates expected to select Alvarez in June Draft

[ChaosLex]

Well, looks like my Matusz prediction was all for naught. Sorry fellas (and ladies)!

http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/05/19/sports/pirates/doc48324cf5ebdf3902480966.txt

[Crazysilver03]

That sucks for the Orioles, but that is exciting for baseball in Pittsburgh.

[ChaosLex]

That sucks for the Orioles, but that is exciting for baseball in Pittsburgh.

Agreed. Considering the Pirates giftwrapped Wieters to us last year, I can't hate them for taking Alvarez.

[dkdc]

Alvarez is my top choice too, but the Pirates taking him isn't all bad.

Matusz/Beckham/Smoak should come a lot cheaper than Pedro, so the Orioles can apply the money saved towards an above-slot signing later in the draft.

[Sports Guy]

Hopefully the DRays take Posey #1....If they do that, it seems like one of Beckham or Alvarez will fall to us.

[Hank Scorpio]

How does this guy know who the Pirates are taking?

[markpolis]

I've said it all along. If available, the Pirates will not pass on Alvarez. The D-Rays will select T. Beckham or B. Posey. If Posey is available for the Royals they will select him. I'm not so sure the Royals take T. Beckham.

In other words, Alvarez and Posey will not be there when we pick. (another reason why all of this Posey talk is moot) There is only a slight chance T. Beckham falls to us.

More than likely, the Orioles will be choosing between Matusz, Smoak, G. Beckham, Hosmer or fill in the blank. My preference would be Smoak.

[markpolis]

How does this guy know who the Pirates are taking?

Good point. Later in article he states Jeremy Guthrie is left-handed. (at least when he was drafted)

[markpolis]

Also, this was just posted in BA regarding MLB and price slotting for the upcoming draft:

"MLB sent a memo to clubs telling them in effect to take the player they want and not to worry about signability—though this should not be seen as a signal to spend heavily. It's more likely a case of the commissioner's office providing more flexibility to scouting directors who are disgruntled about the effect of slotting on the draft, though it's uncertain whether owners will actually open their wallets. Agents are certainly still trying to steer their players toward more free-spending clubs, according to area scouts."

Former MLB vice president Frank Coonelly, has taken over as president of the Pirates. Coonelly was in charge of making sure teams adhered to the slotting system in baseball. He has said the Pirates will select the best player available, regardless of contract demands.

[Frobby]

The players the Pirates are considering include Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez; Tim Beckham, a high school shortstop from Georgia; San Diego left-hander Brian Matusz; Florida State catcher Buster Posey and South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak.

None of the five will come cheap and Alvarez, who is being advised by superagent Scott Boras, is said to be seeking a major-league contract worth at least $8 million.

The Pirates have never given a major-league contract to a draft choice. They also haven’t selected a Boras-advised player since selecting Stanford left-hander Jeremy Guthrie in the third round of the 2001 draft.

Former scouting director Mickey White was close to reaching a deal with Guthrie when Littlefield replaced Cam Bonifay as GM that summer. Littlefield nixed the deal. Guthrie was the Orioles’ opening-day starter this season.

Alvarez is the guy the Pirates want and appears they will get as Tampa Bay is leaning toward picking Beckham or Posey.

This time, the Pirates won’t make the same mistake. Alvarez will be their man, they will sign and he could very well be their starting third baseman next season.

Sounds like speculation to me.

[Sports Guy]

I've said it all along. If available, the Pirates will not pass on Alvarez. The D-Rays will select T. Beckham or B. Posey. If Posey is available for the Royals they will select him. I'm not so sure the Royals take T. Beckham.

In other words, Alvarez and Posey will not be there when we pick. (another reason why all of this Posey talk is moot) There is only a slight chance T. Beckham falls to us.

More than likely, the Orioles will be choosing between Matusz, Smoak, G. Beckham, Hosmer or fill in the blank. My preference would be Smoak.

It will be interesting if they go with Smoak if they think they are signing Tex...Not that it should matter since Smoak can DH.

[JJLinn29]

I have a weird feeling that the Rays will take Posey, the Pirates Alvarez. Matusz goes #3 to KC, and T. Beckham falls into our laps.

No explanation other than gut feeling and intuition.

[Sports Guy]

Basing anything on the idea that they ARE signing Tex, is just laughable. They should proceed without Tex in mind, at all.

Of course they should but will they?

[AVencill]

Before tonight's Keys game, a Royals scout was in the pressbox on his phone, talking about various trade pieces and the draft. He specifically brought up Posey's name in the conversation after talking about Wieters. I think with John Buck and Miguel Olivo, they're not real content at that position, so seeing them draft Posey would be a good thing for us.

As far as Alvarez is concerned, I think that they would be wise to take him with that pick instead of the Beckhams or Posey. Then again, I don't know all that much about the draft. I just hope we get the best hitter availible. There's enough pitching in the system, so I think we can hold off until at least round two or beyond for that position.

[OSfanfromCT]

Before tonight's Keys game, a Royals scout was in the pressbox on his phone, talking about various trade pieces and the draft. He specifically brought up Posey's name in the conversation after talking about Wieters. I think with John Buck and Miguel Olivo, they're not real content at that position, so seeing them draft Posey would be a good thing for us.

As far as Alvarez is concerned, I think that they would be wise to take him with that pick instead of the Beckhams or Posey. Then again, I don't know all that much about the draft. I just hope we get the best hitter availible. There's enough pitching in the system, so I think we can hold off until at least round two or beyond for that position.

That's exactly how I feel. Arietta in the fifth? Penn was a fourth rounder if I remember correctly. There are always quality arms to have somewhere in the draft, and the fact that our system is so thin on bats makes me feel that we really really need to take the best hitter available. I've said it all along, take a bat. I don't want Matusz (well I would love to have Matusz, but not with the first pick).