The D'Rays last try to sign Upton

[Liter22]

Last run at Upton
The Devils have made Aug. 26 their deadline to sign first-round pick B.J. Upton, the Tampa Tribune reported Aug. 22. According to the newspaper, the main obstacle appears to be length of contract, not the amount. The Rays' have increased the offer to $4.5 million with a $250,000 bonus. "We feel like he wants to play for the Devil Rays, and we want him to," farm director Cam Bonifay, who's leading the negotiations for Tampa Bay, told the newspaper. "We've just got some work to do on getting an agreeable figure. Hopefully, we can get something done before school starts on Aug. 26 (at FSU)." While Florida State remains an option for the shortstop, Upton is believed to be leaning toward a season in junior college.

I think this is the dumbest qout of the day[QOUTE]"We feel like he wants to play for the Devil Rays, and we want him to," farm director Cam Bonifay, who's leading the negotiations for Tampa Bay, told the newspaper.[QOUTE]
The guy is young and probably wqants to win why would he want to sign wiht this team:confused: :confused:

[Panzram]

Even though the Rays are doing badly I remind you about the Marlins. They were once an expansion team and they ended up winning the World Series. So, in retrospect things could be worse. And I'm sure the Rays will only get better once they get some solid pitching.

-KoZ

[Tigers#1]

B.J. Upton, the No. 2 pick, was scheduled to enroll at Florida State Aug. 23, but he told Seminoles coaches that day he would not be attending. Instead, he’ll enroll at a junior college if he does not reach an agreement with the Devil Rays.

Tampa Bay has offered the Virginia high school shortstop $4.5 million, with $250,000 up front. The overall amount is $2 million more than any 2002 draft pick has received so far, but Upton and agent Larry Reynolds balked at the terms of the deal.

The Devil Rays continued to narrow the gap by increasing their offer from $4.1 million overall and $100,000 up front.

The snag continued to be both the total value of the deal and how the money would be paid. The cash-strapped Devil Rays prefer to backload the deal–either in the form of a major league contract or through Upton’s status as a multi-sport athlete, which would allow payments to be spread out over five years.

"I can’t tell you we’re any closer," said Cam Bonifay, the Rays’ player personnel director. "Both parties have stated their case, and we’re just trying to work through that."

Reynolds said Upton would attend junior college–probably Chipola or Riverside (Calif.) Community College–if a deal cannot be reached. But he also left open the possibility Upton may not enroll until January.

"There is no deadline," Reynolds said, "but the time for them to do something is now. He is prepared to go to school."

If the Devil Rays don’t sign Upton and he goes to a junior college, they would retain his rights until a week before next year’s draft. But with it looking likely the club will have the No. 1 pick in 2003, it would put the Devil Rays in the position of trying to sign two high-priced players at once. That possibility increases their urgency to sign Upton now.