I'm feeling a DRAFT....

.


What's a team to do?

Missing out on the #1 pick (Strasburg) by a mere game or two...
But, maybe that's not such a bad thing considering the proposed Boras price tag.

Although, the projected #2 (Ackley - also a Boras client) will not come cheaply either...
As usual, speculation is rampant and some think them M's might pass over Ackley in order to ensure sign-ability or they may just prefer an arm (considering they are likely to lose Jarrod and Erik to free agency and/or trades). Some of the projected top picks here...

Believe it or not, twenty-two years ago, the M's came very close to not picking the very player that would become the face of their franchise. Kirby Arnold writes about it here...

In any event, 't will be an interesting and exciting day to finally see what Tom McNamara and team have up their sleeves.

Tom McNamara, the organization's new scouting director, said, "This is the most important Draft in the history of the Mariner franchise."

And not since that '93 First-Year Player Draft have the Mariners selected as high as they will on Tuesday evening -- second overall. Seattle also has the 27th and 33rd selections as compensation for losing free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez to the Phillies, along with the 51st pick.

"Obviously, we need to hit on the high guys, because we have a lot of high picks," McNamara said. "But there's also eighth-round, 12th-round, 25th-round guys out there that can become good Major League players."

McNamara is one of general manager Jack Zduriencik's hand-picked personnel he brought with him to Seattle from the Brewers, who are reaping the benefits of superb recent Drafts.

"My job here is to bring the people of Seattle, Jack, [team president] Chuck [Armstrong], everyone, the most talented players out there," McNamara said. "We're going to be looking for players with, obviously, talent, tools and good statistics, but character -- a winning character."