The Pirates surprise no one and take Pedro Alvarez, the cover boy for BA’s Draft Preview issue. The Bucs will do everything they can to change the culture of this franchise and will pay top dollar for this Scott Boras Corporation client.

Alvarez didn’t finish strong or have the best season, but getting a guy who might be the top talent in the draft class is something the Pirates haven’t done in recent years, even when they’ve drafted highly. Alvarez was said to have an asking price of around $8.5 million for a major league contract. He’ll be worth it if he stays at third base and hits the way the Pirates and most other clubs anticipate.

I’m almost to the point of "wake me up when we get to the Giants." The Royals of course could have pulled a last-hour switch as they did last year, when they audibled from Josh Vitters to Mike Moustakas. But we anticipate Eric Hosmer to KC and Brian Matusz to the Orioles.

And I wrote long enough to get to the Royals’ pick . . . and it’s Hosmer, another SBC client. Hosmer was considered a tough sign this spring but the Royals have had success with SBC clients of late, with Moustakas and Luke Hochevar.