Devil Rays president Matt Silverman said Sunday that the team is optimistic about signing No. 1 overall pick David Price before Wednesday's midnight deadline.
"Both sides are working towards finding a middle ground that works and both sides are committed to trying to find a solution here," Silverman said.
Price figures to sign before the deadline, but several other high-profile picks look unlikely to do so.
Under new rules put in place this year, teams are compensated with an extra pick in the next year's draft for any first- or second-round selection who doesn't sign.
If Price goes back to college, the Rays would get the second overall pick in 2008, and if they still have the worst record in baseball at the end of the season they would be picking first overall again, as well.
Price also would have to sign a waiver agreeing to allow the Rays to draft him in 2008 if he doesn't sign with them this season.
The Rays are one of the better young teams in the league and they have to be able to produce their own talent to ever be able to compete with the rest of baseball.
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