The Rays are in discussions on a "long-term extension with Fox Sports Net that will lock in the team’s local media rights for at least the next 16 years," according sources cited by Ourand & Kaplan of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The deal, which "still has hurdles the two sides have to overcome, could be finalized before the start of the baseball season." Sources said that the team is "due to receive" close to $35M this season, which is the last year under the current deal with FS Sun. Fox’ payout is "expected to increase" to around $50M in '19 under the new contract. Sources added that over the 15-year life of the deal, which would run through the '33 season, Fox "would pay, on average," around $82M per year (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/26 issue). In Tampa, Marc Topkin notes the "hefty increase in revenues would come at a time the Rays are seeking to get a new stadium built in Tampa, with a combination of team, private and public contributions." It also "comes after a series of recent trades aimed at reducing payroll" from their '17 season-ending total of around $80M (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/27). Topkin writes while it was "known the Rays have been working toward a new deal, the immediacy and size of the pact -- as reported -- are staggering." The reported terms "seem to make the deal a game-changer." A lot of teams are also "getting more -- and significantly more than the Rays will -- from new TV deals, enough so that the Rays could still be in the bottom half overall" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/27).
