MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred "did lots of talking Thursday during the first visit by a commissioner to Rays spring training camp in 18 years," but the "one answer he didn't have was what Major League Baseball will do if the Rays don't make progress soon in addressing their biggest problem, the lack of a new ballpark," according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Manfred took questions from players on "pace-of-game changes and marketing initiatives, meeting with top team officials and conducting a series of interviews." He said that for now, MLB "remains willing to follow the lead" of team Owner Stuart Sternberg with regard to a new ballpark. However, Manfred "did push the onus for help ever so slightly more onto local government leaders, though he didn't specify St. Petersburg or Tampa." Manfred: "From our perspective, it is very difficult to get a new stadium done without cooperation, help, assistance from local government. We're hoping -- we're hoping -- that Stuart gets that kind of help so that they can get a facility that will keep the Rays and keep them competitive for the long term." Manfred added that potential relocation markets "could be a factor because 'obviously having a market that wants baseball, that could support a team, provides leverage to a team that's trying to get something done somewhere.'" Manfred also met with Rays President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman, President Brian Auld and VP/Development Melanie Lenz, who "heads the stadium effort" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/27).
SEARCH FUNCTION: In Tampa, Charlie Frago noted St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on Friday was scheduled to "send a revised memorandum of understanding" with the Rays to City Council. But Kriseman Chief of Staff Kevin King on Wednesday said that the mayor is "still unsure when he'll ask the council to reconsider the request to allow the team to look throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties for a new stadium site." Frago noted the revised MOU, which the Rays support, "addresses what will happen if the team finds a new site outside St. Petersburg but in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties." King said that it "would guarantee the city collects" 100% of the revenue from any sale of redevelopment rights "if they are sold between the time when the team announces plans to vacate Tropicana Field and when it actually leaves the site" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/26).
RELAX, DON'T DO IT: In Tampa, John Romano wrote chances "are increasing that the agreement to allow the Rays to search around the Tampa Bay area for new stadium sites may not get done" in '15. If the deal does not get done in April, "it may not be revived until after the fall election and at least two new members join the council" in '16. Skeptics on the city council are "too hung up on ... details, and they're not considering the bigger picture for the city" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/26).
