The Rays are completing their prep work this afternoon for the opening two rounds of the annual draft, and the potential for a big haul with three picks in the top 40 and four overall tonight.
The Rays have the No. 22 pick, which was their original pick. They gained No. 36 as part of MLB’s competitive balance program for smaller market and lower revenue teams. And they acquired No. 40, also a competitive balance pick, from Oakland along with reliever Emilio Pagan in a December trade. The competitive balance picks are the only ones that can be traded.