Tampa Bay Rays

In a matter of five days, workers are preparing the Yankees' spring training site to become the Rays' home for the 2025 season.

There are several possible scenarios that could keep the team in the Tampa Bay area. Or they might seek greener fields elsewhere.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the baseball team has made a lot of progress in building a fan base in the region. But he held up the success of hockey's Tampa Bay Lightning as an example to emulate.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said he was not surprised, adding he still intends to repair Tropicana Field and move forward with the redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District.

Owner Stuart Sternberg pronounces the deal dead, citing events resulting from Hurricane Milton. Rays president Matt Silverman says the team is not for sale, but ownership remains committed to the Tampa area.

The Rays want to make recently upgraded Steinbrenner Field a home away from home. But there's a lot of work to do in the five days between the end of spring training and Tampa Bay's regular-season opener.

Joe Molloy, a former Yankees executive, tells the Tampa Bay Times he is leading one of the efforts to buy the team while The Athletic reports Eddie DeBartolo Jr. is part of the group.

Team president Erik Neander says the Rays have dealt with stadium questions throughout their existence but tend to overcome: "This is what we do. I think we do it pretty well.”

Tampa Bay is putting together the pieces to make Steinbrenner Field its 2025 home. That includes fan giveaways, beginning with a schedule magnet on Opening Day, March 28, against Colorado.

City officials want a complete list of repairs that are needed to get the Trop running for several more seasons.

During his State of the City, Mayor Ken Welch says the city remains committed to DEI policies and reflected on a need to remain prepared for more devastating hurricanes, "undeniable evidence of our new reality."

The Orlando Dreamers, an organization founded in 2019 to lure a team to Central Florida, is renewing its quest for a team with Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin as its frontman.