A Jacksonville group led by billionaire Patrick Zalupski have agreed to buy the Rays for an estimated price of $1.7 billion, according to The Athletic. The deal is expected to be finalized by September after negotiations took place over the past weeks. The Rays' principal owner, Stu Sternberg, bought the franchise in 2004 for $200 million.

The Rays are playing home games this season at the New York Yankees’ spring training facility and minor-league complex following Hurricane Milton.

The Athletic also reports: "Zalupski is expected to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area, with a strong preference to be in Tampa rather than St. Petersburg, the source said." Sternberg, who originally took control of the team in 2005,

The $1.7 billion deal for the Rays involves more than just America's pastime, with implications for soccer fans and stadium plans on both sides of Tampa Bay.

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal proposes a "wild" Kyle Tucker idea, which would have the Tampa native leave the Chicago Cubs for the Rays in the offseason.

ATLANTA — Pete Alonso knows a lot about his hometown of Tampa and a lot about playing major-league baseball. And the Mets’ All-Star first baseman has a couple ideas on where the Rays should build a new stadium in his hometown.