Talks with top pick Price coming down to final day

Rays remain confident they will sign the Vanderbilt All-America left-hander.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published August 15, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Brian Cassella | Times] First baseman Carlos Pena, shown striking out July 27, remains confident despite a slump lasting nearly a month.

BOSTON - As tonight's midnight deadline to sign No. 1 overall draft pick David Price nears, the Rays remain confident they will sign the Vanderbilt All-America left-hander.

On Tuesday, the Tigers dished out a four-year, $7.285-million major-league contract to New Jersey high schooler Rick Porcello, who slid to the 27th pick because teams were scared they wouldn't be able to sign the Scott Boras client. The contract is the largest given to a high school player by the team that drafted him.

With many first-round picks remaining unsigned heading into the final 24 hours, including the first, second, third and fifth overall selections - one would believe Porcello's deal would raise the price for the top picks.

But it is believed the Rays don't think it will affect their negotiations much. Price is reportedly seeking between $7-million to $10-million. Meanwhile, MLB, trying to keep contracts down, is reportedly suggesting deals in the $4-million range.

"Both sides are continuing to work very hard on an agreement before the deadline," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We remain optimistic that we will complete a deal and we hope to have good news to report tomorrow."

An e-mail to Price's adviser, Bo McKinnis, went unanswered Tuesday evening.

If the Rays can't sign Price, they will receive a compensation pick -- No. 2 overall -- in next year's draft.

PENA BREAKING OUT?: The hits still aren't coming for 1B Carlos Pena - who is 3-for-32 on the road trip with 12 strikeouts - but Pena said he believes he's about to break out of his nearly month-long slump.

"You can't try to reinvent the wheel," Pena said. "Instead of thinking I've got to get a hit, it's about how I feel and how I see it. You almost have to be inhuman in that regard. You can not let your emotions get the best of you. You have to be cold when it comes to your approach."

Pena, who is hitting .170 since July 19 and has gone a season-long 10 games without a homer, walked three times Friday in Texas and has hit some hard lineouts. He hit deep fly balls in his first two at-bats Tuesday, including a fourth-inning sacrifice fly to center, but finished 0-for-3.

"Everybody will hone in on the fact that he's swinging and missing but for me, the slump really occurs when he doesn't walk," manager Joe Maddon said. "I try to bring to his attention, when you're walking you're hitting."

SONNY DAYS: Andy Sonnanstine's 1-8 record overall and his 13.50 ERA in his past two outings doesn't concern Maddon.

"He's had more trouble with his breaking ball in regard to hanging them and not getting them where he wants," Maddon said. "His fastball doesn't get hit as much."

The losses have piled up for Sonnanstine, who hasn't won since his second big-league start June 10, but Maddon said he believes the 24-year-old can regroup at the big-league level because of his track record of success in the minors.

"I think he can get it done here," Maddon said. "To have your first real challenge be at the major-league level, it makes it a little more difficult to straighten yourself out."

MISCELLANY: Rays LF Carl Crawford has hit safely in 14 of his past 15 games, and is hitting .492 in that stretch. ... The Rays will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte on Monday at 11 a.m. ... Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-9 against LHP Scott Kazmir.

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 01:32:11]