Preparing for the annual player draft is different for the Rays this year.   
   Because of last season’s success, they won’t pick until 30th when the draft gets underway Tuesday night. And that means they don’t know yet – and may not until then – know who they will take.
    Instead, the Rays are focusing on a group of players they expect to be available.
    “It’s a pretty good size set,’’ scouting director R.J. Harrison said at Wednesday’s pre-draft media session. “I could probably think of 15-20 players right now, and some of them will end up being selected before.’’
   By Tuesday, they expect to have it narrowed down, but it won’t be until the Yankees pick ahead of them and they are on the clock for four minutes that they will know for sure. "We have six days to break it down,'' Harrison said. "We'll have it stacked up pretty good 1-30.''
  After the first round, the Rays don’t pick again – due to various compensation picks – until 78th, then 108th, then 139th, and so on.
  The Rays have picked in the top eight of the first round each year since 1999, four times first overall.

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