Major League Baseball

A spokesperson in the Dominican Republic says the Tampa Bay shortstop was allegedly fighting with another man over a woman's attention.

With St. Petersburg just beginning the assessment of the hurricane-ravaged Tropicana Field, Rob Manfred is "hopeful" the team can play in the home market until the new stadium is built.

Beginning with Friday's game, the Rays will become the seventh MLB team to use facial-recognition Go-Ahead Entry. If you choose to opt in, there's no more digging for your phone to scan your tickets.

The Pinellas County Commission vote culminated an arduous two-year journey that most recently began after St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said he wanted to start over with the plan to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District.

The Bally Sports networks were no longer available to Comcast subscribers on May 1 due to a contract dispute. The agreement means 15 regional sports networks will be available on Thursday.

The four-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder played nine years with the Rays before joining the Blue Jays.

Prosecutors also say Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars to consent to the relationship, which lasted four months.

Franco is accused of committing sexual and psychological abuse of the minor. The deadline to press charges was July 5, but Dominican Republic law allows a judge to grant an extra 10 days for prosecutors to present their conclusions.

Tampa Bay’s All-Star shortstop has not played since Aug. 12 while MLB continues its investigation into an alleged relationship with a minor.

With many games held without fans or with limited crowds because of pandemic restrictions, larger incentives tied to publicly funded stadiums and arenas in Florida posted negative returns.

Franco, who has a $2 million salary this year, remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate.

Tampa Bay hosts Toronto, and the Trop is sold out for Game 1 of 162. Can the Rays reach the postseason for the sixth straight season? Typically, the experts aren't sure, but no one is calling them an underdog, either.