The Rays on Jan. 1 will see the "end of a three-year deal that opened the door" for talks with Hillsborough County about moving to a new ballpark in the Ybor City area of Tampa, and "extending the deal, even if that’s allowed, could cost the team more money," according to Charlie Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The Rays have a contract with the city of St. Petersburg "requiring them to play at Tropicana Field" through '27. But the team persuaded city leaders in January '16 to let them "spend three years looking at alternative sites -- including some outside the city." The exploration agreement "doesn’t have any language specifically authorizing an extension." St. Petersburg City Attorney Jackie Kovilaritch said that the move would "require new negotiations between the Rays and approval by Mayor Rick Kriseman and the City Council." St. Petersburg City Council member Charlie Gerdes said that if it comes to that, the city "might want to revise the compensation it demanded from the Rays should it be asked to release the team from its contract to play at Tropicana Field." Under the current agreement, the Rays would pay $2M a year between '23-26 if the team is "playing in an Ybor City ballpark by then" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/8).
