FanHouse Tim Beckham

While most teams around baseball had already started signing some of their draft picks following the draft a few weeks ago, most have been waiting to see what the Rays would do with Tim Beckham before negotiating with their own first round picks.

Well, let the negotiating begin, as the Rays have signed the #1 pick.

Tim Beckham used one word to describe how it felt to walk into the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse and spot a jersey with his name on the back hanging in a locker next to established major leaguers.

"Sweet," the talented high school shortstop from Griffin, Ga., said Thursday.

Yeah, I'd probably say sweet too if I'd just signed a contract that included a $6.15 million signing bonus. The bonus is more than the Rays gave to their top pick last season, pitcher David Price, who got $5.6 million last season, though overall the deal will pay Beckham less than Price's $11.25 million total.

The Rays don't mind giving Beckham a larger signing bonus than Price because agreeing to a deal with him this early guarantees that Tim can join the Rays minor league system right away. They didn't sign Price until mid-August last season, preventing him from pitching in the minors until this season.

In case you weren't able to watch today's Major League Baseball draft or follow along with me and Andrew Johnson at our live blog of the festivities, here's a roundup of the guys who went in the first round to the teams of the American League East.

Tampa Bay Rays (1) Tim Beckham, SS, Griffin (GA) H.S.: As expected, the Rays made Beckham the first overall selection of the draft. He was the best overall player on the board and the fact that it may take some time before he's ready for the big leagues shouldn't bother a Tampa team that's well stocked for the foreseeable future. Thinking long term and taking players like Beckham in the draft is an awfully good way for the Rays to remain that way.

Baltimore Orioles (4) Brian Matusz, LHP, Univ. of San Diego: The first pitcher selected could be a fast climber in the Oriole system. A tall lefty, Matusz (shown pitching for Team USA) isn't a power pitcher but has four above-average pitches and will need to be in the high minors before the Orioles know if he projects to the front, middle or back of the rotation. The key to that will be how well he learns to spot his fastball to set up his highly regarded breaking stuff.

Already larded up with young talent, the Rays added one more name to the rolls with what they hope is their last lofty draft position for a while. They've decided to select Griffin, Georgia high-schooler Tim Beckham with the first overall pick in the MLB draft, which officially begins at 2 P.M.

Beckham's a shortstop who has committed to USC but seems likely to forgo co-eds for long bus rides in the low minors. Baseball America's Jim Callis said that Beckham"has the best combination of five-tool ability and baseball aptitude in the draft" and Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein writes that in a perfect world Beckham becomes "an All-Star shortstop who hits 20 home runs, steals 40 bases, and plays above-average defense."

It's the fourth time the Rays have picked first overall. They selected Josh Hamilton, Delmon Young and, just last year, David Price.

The choice of Beckham may have been dictated, in part, by the pocketbook. Beckham is toolsy and young, which doesn't always work out, while Florida State catcher Buster Posey could fill an actual team need much sooner. Reports are that Posey is asking for $12 million which may have been the final push the Rays needed to go in Beckham's direction. Beckham's upside is tremendous but it seems likely that, if all things were equal, Posey could have been their first choice.