Great scouting by Boston

It's been a while but I'm back with some interesting post-draft tidbits concerning the Red Sox. Boston took a pair of high school stars that many considered, talent wise, worthy of being selected in the first three or four rounds. But because of the elimination of draft and follows along with the Commissioner's edict on slot requirements, Ricky Oropesa slipped to the 742^nd pick while Matt Marquis fell to 862^nd.

The Mets and the Cardinals, according to one insider, coveted Oropesa, who played at Etiwanda High in California and is a MLB Urban Academy product. The Cardinals wanted to take the slugging third baseman in the third round and use him exclusively as a pitcher. They offered him $500,000 but he turned it down, saying he wanted to remain an everyday player. They also liked him as a hitter in the fifth round as a hitter but once teams learned he didn't want to pitch they shied away.

If he signs with Boston, and that's a 50-50 proposition at this point, they'll keep him at third base. One insider believes Oropesa compares favorably to Pedro Alvarez, whom the Pirates chose with the second overall pick out of Vanderbilt, when he was coming out of high school. Incidentally, the Sox drafted Alvarez in the 14^th round of the 2005 draft but couldn't sign him. One insider said they were less than $100,000 apart.

So if Boston can sign Oropesa, it would be a great high risk, high ceiling move. The kid can hit a ton, has a great makeup and will headed to USC next year if he doesn't sign. My best guess is that the Sox will pony up the cash despite where they picked him because all projections are that he'll turn into a first-round caliber talent in a few years.

"He's as strong as a bull," one scout told me about Oropesa. "He's one of those guys that, if and when he hits it, it goes a long way." That much was evident last summer when he hit a homer into the upper deck at Yankee Stadium during the Area Code Games.

Marquis also projects as a first-round talent within two-to-three years but the slugging outfielder from New Jersey is committed to Vanderbilt. Becoming a Commodore appears to be more attractive to Marquis that USC might be to Oropesa. But Boston liked him all the way in the draft and may be willing to overpay to get him. Marquis has worked at the Jack Cust Academy in New Jersey and won the home run derby at the Perfect Game Showcase earlier this year.

All involved parties will meet within the next day or so to see if there's anything that can be worked out. These two guys bear watching. It's an excellent job by the Sox rolling the dice on them.