Tonight at Durham: 9 ip 7 h 1 er 1 bb 12 so

This is the obligatory disclaimer where I mention he did not say anything like "Call me up" or "Betcha Mitch Talbot can't do that" or "This word limit is really really dumb I hope I'm at 75 words. Nope not yet that was only 53 words damn I'm tall and I think DRaysBay is awesome la la la la la la."

The good? David Price makes his AA debut tonight with Montgomery, while Tim Beckham makes his professional debut in Princeton playing DH. Also, Rays 1B Carlos Pena will be DHing for high class-A Vero Beach and should be activated if all goes well. Also, relief prospect Eduardo Morlan will represent the Rays as a member of the World team in the Futures Game.

The bad? ProjectProspect is reporting that top LHP prospect Jake McGee will undergo Tommy John surgery. McGee was removed from a start last week with forearm/elbow soreness. Assuming he has the surgery within the next few weeks, it will wipe out the rest of this season(obviously) as well as most of next season. For means of comparison, Phillies RHP prospect Kyle Drabek had TJ last June and won't return to a mound during a game until August this year at the earliest. TJ is no death sentence for a pitcher, particularly one of McGee's age, but he lives and dies by his fastball. If his velocity never returns to the mid-high 90's, I very much doubt how effective he can be.

The FSL All-Star Game is tonight, and Vero Beach right-hander Ryan Morse was named the starter for the East squad. Other Devil Rays(they're still called that down there, don't fine me) participating are pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Heath Rollins, outfielders Garrett Groce and J.T. Hall, and infielder Cesar Suarez. Pitcher Ryan Reid was also selected, but was since promoted to AA Montgomery. J.T. Hall is also a participant in the FSL home run derby, which precedes the 7:15 EST game.

Also, this is mostly conjecture, but my guess is Hellickson would've started if he was healthy, but he was removed from his last start with a blister problem. I'd be surprised if Hellickson winds up pitching tonight since he didn't start.

Marc Topkin reporting:

The Rays will take Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham with the top pick in today's draft.
The Rays on Wednesday said they had narrowed the field to Beckham and Florida State catcher Buster Posey.
Here is what Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison said about Beckham at last week's media session:
"A really good player at a premium position. Middle of the field player, very good athlete, an advanced bat, had a real good awareness on the field. He plays the game with a great deal of enthusiasm, and then when you spend time with him away from the field, he's the same guy. He's a fun guy to be around.''
The draft starts at 2 p.m. and Rays officials will discuss the decision shortly after that. One question is likely to be about rumors, reported by Baseball Prospectus and other web sites, that Posey was seeking a package of $12-million.

According to BaseballAmerica, the Rays are still back and forth on the #1 pick, though it appears to be down to just two:

According to BA’s sources, the Rays’ scouting department prefers Georgia prep shortstop Tim Beckham, the kind of toolsy, middle-of-the-diamond athlete the Rays have drafted repeatedly—the kind of athletes that have put the Rays in first place in the American League East as the draft approaches. Others in the organization, such as de facto GM Andrew Friedman, are said to prefer Florida State catcher Buster Posey as the perfect complement to the organization’s impressive current stockpile of talent.

Stacy Long says :

Center fielder Desmond Jennings, a top Rays prospect who hasn't played this year because of injuries, could be close to shipping out of extended spring and joining Vero Beach.

Jennings has been playing in extended spring games, is up to playing at full speed and could be activated as soon as this weekend, field coordinator Jim Hoff said.

Excellent news indeed, should provide a much-needed boost to Vero Beach's offense.

We're done with roughly a month of the minor league season, and by now most people know what Jeremy Hellickson did(which is: dominated). We know that a couple top guys struggled(Chris Mason, Ryan Royster, etc)... but what about the less-heralded guys? Just because a player doesn't make a top 30 prospect list doesn't mean he won't contribute someday, especially in an organization as deep as ours. So after the jump I take a look at some things that happened in the first month that may have slipped through the cracks.

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via assets.sbnation.com

Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler. Apparently a picture isn't worth a thousand words any more, so this is filler.

Okay, we've taken a look at the top four candidates to be selected with the first overall pick. Now it's time to see what you guys think, and I've set up a poll below for just that. Also, after the jump you can find some additional notes on the draft, as well as the coldly-anticipated first mock draft of the year.

Continue reading this post »

UPDATE(1:04): It's done. Could be nine years when it's all said and done. Topkin has more:

The Rays have signed 3B Evan Longoria to a long-term deal that could be worth more than $44-million over nine years. The first six years are guaranteed for $17.5-million and the Rays hold a one-year option for 2014 and a two-year option for 2015-16.

(Additional notes: The Rays have also claimed Dan Johnson off waivers and Calvin Medlock designated for assignment(hat tip: websterjtc); and I'll post the final part of my draft preview series tomorrow when things are a little less busy in Rays-world.) 

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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the "major announcement" will be that the Rays have inked Longoria to a long-term contract:

The details of the contract are not yet known, but it is believed that the deal will be for six years in the $17 million range with option scenarios that will enable the Rays to buy out two years of Longoria's free agency.

The contract, to be announced at 1 p.m. ET, also is expected to include escalators that will enable Longoria to add to his guaranteed money if he develops into a major star.

More from Marc Topkin as the official announcement draws near:

There is no official word and lots of speculation at this point, including some talk that the deal could run for nine years (with team options) and be worth close to $50-million.