Rays are in no hurry to promote Beckham

Tim Beckham was in town last week as one of 22 prospects invited to Tropicana Field for the Rays' first Winter Development Program. The first overall pick in 2008 was not the best prospect in that pool. Not even the second-best. He was simply one of the best.

That's a departure from the way things used to work around the organization when Rays fans eagerly awaited the arrival of the first pick in any draft to help save the big-league club.

Remember the B.J. Upton Watch? The Delmon Young Watch? Heck, there was even a Dewon Brazelton Watch.

No one is watching and waiting for the day Beckham arrives at Tropicana Field. A lot of that has to do with Jason Bartlett, the Rays' All-Star shortstop. That's the benefit of having a winning team at the major-league level. It tends to decrease the need for help from the farm system.

But there also has been a shift in the Rays' philosophy concerning their approach toward the kids.

"Impact and longevity," minor-league operations director Mitch Lukevics said.

And the best way to a long and impactful major-league career is more than a year or two in the minor leagues.

"Some of the young men in the past got here well before their time," Lukevics said.

Players such as Evan Longoria and David Price, who both played four years in college, proved they didn't need much minor-league seasoning. But they are rare.

Might Brazelton's big-league career have been different had he come to the Rays with more than 149 minor-league innings on his resume? Could Upton's career be further along if he hadn't reached the Trop just two years into his professional career?

We'll never know.

But the Rays are doing their best to eliminate those questions when it comes to players such as Beckham, Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings.

Wade Davis pitched 7671/3 minor-league innings before he made his big-league debut.

"You don't want to rush Wade Davis," Lukevics said.

Hellickson has pitched 461 innings in the minors and will throw a few more before he is deemed ready.

"It's a benefit for the players. What's good for them comes first," Lukevics said. "And it's a benefit for the organization for them to get here when they can truly handle the competition."

Beckham will begin his third pro season this spring, probably with Single-A Charlotte in the Florida State League.

And that's fine with him.

"My coaches know what's best for me," Beckham said. "When I'm ready, I'll be there. I know I'm not ready yet.

"I don't want to get rushed, go up there and come down."

Arbitration bound

Deals were not reached with J.P. Howell, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and B.J. Upton before Friday's deadline, and the players filed for arbitration. Hearings will be held in St. Petersburg during the first three weeks of February.

No pick for Shouse

The Rays missed a chance to get another pick in the compensation round between the first and seconds rounds of this year's draft when LHP Brian Shouse signed a minor-league deal last week with the Red Sox.

Fan Fest setfor Feb. 20

More details will be released early this week, but expect this Fan Fest, held at the Trop, to be much like the others.

Spring training ticket sales

While not as brisk as last year, the Rays are pleased with the first week's sales for their spring games at Charlotte County Sports Park. The games with the Yankees and Red Sox are, naturally, the top sellers.