Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg is "optimistic that by season's end, there will be a site chosen and a proposal completed" for a new ballpark "somewhere -- though they don't know where yet -- in the Tampa Bay area," according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Sternberg said that he is "encouraged by progress" on the ballpark. The plan now is to "whittle a list" of a half-dozen potential ballpark sites down to a "top 'pin-perfect' choice, not looking to identify Pinellas and Hillsborough options then negotiate for a better deal." Sternberg said that a reason for his optimism, and resulting freedom from MLB to "drive the process, has been the cooperation of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and other politicians." Acknowledging there is still major work to be done, Sternberg said that they are "optimistic the quixotic quest will result in a workable solution, rather than concluding there is not one." Meanwhile, Sternberg has had "no thoughts of selling, though he gets regular inquiries from people wanting to invest in, buy or relocate the team" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/5).
