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Top Pick Beckham To Visit Trop

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Top overall draft pick Tim Beckham will visit Tropicana Field this weekend, and his father is optimistic the young shortstop will sign with the Rays before the family heads back home to Georgia.

Jimmy Beckham said Tuesday night from his home in Griffin, Ga., that his family has had "some good conversations the last couple of days" with the Rays and everyone seems inclined to conclude negotiations as quickly as possible.

"We've had good communication," the elder Beckham said. "There's probably no reason we can't get something done this weekend."

The Beckhams hope to arrive in town Thursday. Jimmy Beckham reiterated Tuesday what his son said after being drafted by the Rays 13 days ago - that he would prefer to sign and begin playing at the earliest opportunity.

"Tim wants to play baseball," his father said. "The objective is not to squabble over money, it's to get out and play baseball."

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman would say only that "discussions are ongoing" with Beckham's representatives. Greg Genske, the agent who is advising Beckham, didn't return a phone message left Tuesday.

While the Beckhams hope to have some sort of resolution on Tim's contract in the coming days, the patriarch was thinking about the other Rays draft pick in his family Tuesday night.

Jeremy Beckham, Tampa Bay's 17th-round selection out of Georgia Southern University, signed last week and was in uniform for Rookie-level Princeton's season opener Tuesday.

APPEALS ABOUND: The next two Rays on track to serve suspensions for their part in the brawl at Fenway Park are planning to appeal.

2B Akinori Iwamura was to have started his three-game ban tonight after LF Carl Crawford finished up his four games on the bench Tuesday. But Iwamura will appeal and continue to play until his hearing with MLB, which will occur next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Also, RHP Edwin Jackson will appeal his five-game suspension and make his next scheduled start Saturday against the Astros. He likely will drop the appeal Sunday and serve his time then, as he doesn't expect a reduction in the number of games he'll have to miss.

The timing of Jackson's suspension and an off day Monday means the Rays shouldn't need a spot starter to take a turn.

In Iwamura's case, the likelihood that SS Jason Bartlett will miss a game or two within the next week played a part in the decision. Bartlett's wife, Kelly, is due to give birth at any time. The couple plans to induce labor next Wednesday if the child hasn't arrived by then.

PENA CLOSE: 1B Carlos Pena (broken left index finger) said he thinks he could be activated from the disabled list at some point on the Rays' upcoming road trip.

Pena took some swings and played catch using a tennis ball Tuesday, and he is scheduled to see the doctor again today. He expects to have another X-ray by the end of this week.

NOTEWORTHY: Montgomery placed CF Rashad Eldridge on the disabled list Tuesday after he pulled an oblique muscle in Saturday's game. ... C Jake Jefferies, the Rays' third-round draft pick out of UC Davis, attended Tuesday's game. ... Sunday night's Rays Wives Fashion Show raised approximately $17,000 to benefit the Children's Dream Fund and the Rays Baseball Foundation.

Marc Lancaster

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