Rays Get Price Signed

The Rays finally came to terms with number 1 overall pick David Price today. The contract is a 6 year deal worth 8.5 million with 5.6 million of it in a signing bonus. The contract could be worth up to 11.25 million if he stays on the major league ball club for the duration of the contract. It looks like the Rays will make room for him on the 40 man roster with this contract. To add Price they will need to get rid of someone and the talk is to either put Durham catcher Sean Riggans on the 60 day DL or they could cut someone like Tim Corcoran from the roster.

The Rays went above the slotted amount of 4 million by the MLB to get this done. After the Tigers signed their first rounder, Rick Porcello, to over a 7 million dollar deal earlier this week it made it nearly impossible for the Rays to go below that number for Price who had been picked much higher. Rays fans should take a look at what the Rays did here and stop complaining about the Rays not spending money. The organization has said they will spend the money when they feel it is for the right talent and signing Price was just the occasion. Had the organization not signed Price over the money than fans would be right in complaining, but now they need to stop complaining and see that the Rays are moving in the right direction.

The Rays have loaded their farm system with arms, but Price is definitely the best one yet. He is a polished power left hander who may see time in the Majors as early as September of this year. He was dominant at Vanderbilt and for the US National team last summer and has all the tools needed to be a top of the rotation starter in the majors. By next year former first round pick, Jeff Niemann, should also be up in the rotation with Price. The Rays have a stable of great young arms and when you add Price to a rotation with Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Jeff Niemann you have a staff that can win any game they pitch in. With all the young talented arms the Rays will be able to move some of the other young arms such as Andy Sonnanstine and Jason Hammel to the bullpen to help out the end of games.

Getting Price's contract done and not complaining about the money was the best thing the Rays organization could have done. The Rays added another great piece to what was already the best farm team in the MLB. The organization showed fans that they are committed to getting players of talent into the organization and are willing to pay for it. Thank you Stu, Andy, and Matt for getting David Price into the organization.