logo
Tampa Bay Rays say they're in talks for a potential sale amid stadium uncertainty

Tampa Bay Rays say they're in talks for a potential sale amid stadium uncertainty

Globe and Mail19-06-2025
The Tampa Bay Rays say they are in 'exclusive discussions' with a Florida investment group for a potential sale of the team.
The Rays are valued at $US1.25-billion, according to Forbes magazine. Stuart Sternberg bought the Major League Baseball club for $US200-million in 2004.
'The Tampa Bay Rays announced that the team has recently commenced exclusive discussions with a group led by Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove, Ken Babby and prominent Tampa Bay investors concerning a possible sale of the team,' the club said Wednesday while declining further comment.
The potential sale comes at a precarious time for the Rays and their home ballpark. They are playing this season at the spring training home of the New York Yankees in Tampa after the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg was heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton last October.
Before the hurricane, the Rays and the city had agreed on a plan for a $US 1.3=billion stadium development project next to Tropicana Field. In March, Sternberg said the club was withdrawing from that agreement.
St. Petersburg is spending about $US55-million to repair Tropicana Field with a plan for the Rays to return there in 2026. The city and the club have a three-year agreement to play there. Beyond that, the club's future in the Tampa Bay area is uncertain.
When the Rays withdrew from the project, the city noted that it was possible the club would have new owners.
'If in the coming months a new owner, who demonstrates a commitment to honouring their agreements and our community priorities emerges, we will consider a partnership to keep baseball in St. Pete,' Mayor Ken Welch said in March. 'But we will not put our city's progress on hold as we await a collaborative and community-focused baseball partner.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Flaherty, Torres help Tigers snap six-game losing streak with 10-4 win over Blue Jays
Flaherty, Torres help Tigers snap six-game losing streak with 10-4 win over Blue Jays

CTV News

time3 hours ago

  • CTV News

Flaherty, Torres help Tigers snap six-game losing streak with 10-4 win over Blue Jays

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws in the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez) DETROIT (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched six scoreless innings, Gleyer Torres hit a three-run homer and the Detroit Tigers ended a six-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Detroit had lost 12 of its past 13 games. Toronto fell to 8-2 since the All-Star break. Flaherty (6-10) allowed a double and four singles. He struck out seven and walked one to end a seven-start winless streak. Max Scherzer (1-1), pitching on his 41st birthday, fell to 2-3 in five career starts against his former team. He allowed three hits in seven innings, including Torres' homer, and struck out 11 without issuing a walk. Dillon Dingler started the third with a single and took third on a Parker Meadows double. Scherzer retired the next two batters, but Torres hit a high fastball into the right-field stands for a three-run homer. The Tigers put the game away with seven runs in the eighth inning, including six with two out. Toronto scored four runs in the ninth off reliever Luke Jackson, who was making his Tigers debut. Bo Bichette had five of Toronto's 10 hits, extending his on-base streak to 19 games. Key moment The Blue Jays had runners on the corners with two out in the seventh. Brenan Hanifee relieved Tyler Holton and threw a slider over the middle of the plate. The ball left George Springer's bat at 108 mph, but Parker Meadows made a simple catch of the line drive in center field. Key stat The loss prevented Toronto from sweeping a four-game series from the Tigers for the first time in franchise history. Up next The Blue Jays travel to Baltimore for a four-game series against the Orioles. RHP Chris Bassitt (11-4, 3.88) is scheduled to start Monday's opener. Detroit remains home for a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Tigers face former teammate LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-6, 5.50) on Monday night. ___ AP MLB: Dave Hogg, The Associated Press

Blue Jays denied a Motown sweep when red-hot bats suddenly go cold
Blue Jays denied a Motown sweep when red-hot bats suddenly go cold

Edmonton Journal

time6 hours ago

  • Edmonton Journal

Blue Jays denied a Motown sweep when red-hot bats suddenly go cold

Article content One has to go back to June 13 to find a time when the Blue Jays were shutout, an 8-0 setback in Philadelphia against a very good Phillies team loaded with quality starters. Article content Technically, the Jays did score in Sunday's in loss, but it was checkered, to say the least, because it came off a recently DFA'd pitcher in a ninth inning featuring a bad call by the home plate ump that led to a walk, the first of three, followed by defensive indifference. Article content Article content Either way, the Jays weren't good, save for their starter and cleanup hitter, and should have been held scoreless until a series of unusual circumstances helped the visitors in the ninth. Article content Article content At no time in franchise history have the Jays earned a four-game sweep in Motown, an elusive feat that would continue following their 10-4 loss. In the opening three games of the series, the Jays outscored the Tigers 23-7. Article content The only player from the bottom of the order to record a hit was Tyler Heineman, who will be expected to fill the void behind the plate in the absence of Alejandro Kirk. Article content Four-run innings have been the norm of late with the Blue Jays, who were on the receiving end when Detroit plated seven in the eighth, a truly ugly frame when the MLB-leading team unraveled. Article content Article content The following are three takeaways on an afternoon the Jays would lose a game for only the second time since the all-star break, but they would take the season series from the Tigers. Article content 1. Mad Max in the Motor City Article content On his 41st birthday, veteran Max Scherzer started against a team he spent five years from 2010 through 2014, which included a World Series appearance in 2012. Article content He's been built up after injuring his thumb in Scherzer's debut with the Blue Jays. Article content Sunday's outing was Scherzer's seventh start of the season. Article content In the first inning, he struck out two by resorting to his fastball. Article content During the Jays' stay at Comerica Park, the team has received solid starting pitching, beginning with Eric Lauer, who was at his absolute best in Thursday's series opener.

Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk placed on seven-day IL
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk placed on seven-day IL

National Post

time9 hours ago

  • National Post

Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk placed on seven-day IL

Article content The Jays are expected to add to their roster as Thursday's 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline approaches. Article content Sunday, the club was forced to subtract a key piece to their league-leading lineup when all-star catcher Alejandro Kirk was placed on the seven-day concussion injury list. Article content Article content Kirk is in the midst of a break-out season, both at the plate and behind it, but he did take a foul ball flush off his mask in the second inning of Saturday's 6-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Article content Article content His bat in the middle of the lineup will be missed, but this Jays team, if anything, has shown to be quite resilient in times of duress. Article content For now, Tyler Heineman is expected to fill the void, no easy task it must be stated. Article content Heineman himself was placed on the concussion IL earlier this season. Article content He has pieced together a solid year for the Blue Jays. Article content Still, Heineman will need to step up as he faces his biggest test of the season. Article content Ali Sanchez was called up to replace Kirk. Article content With all due respect to Sanchez, he looked out of his element when he was first called up by the big-league club. Article content At this stage barring some move out of the blue, the Jays were left with no other choice. Article content Kirk has been one of the primary catalysts to the Jays' surprising season. Article content While he lacks foot speed, not many make solid contact at the plate quite like Kirk. Article content And certainly no one frames pitches like Kirk. Article content

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store