Magic co-Founder Pat Williams said that Orlando is the "natural future home" for the Rays, and he has been making that pitch to team execs for months, according to Charlie Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Rays co-Presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman have "met with Williams 'several times'" since Rays Owner Stu Sternberg in June announced his concept of splitting the team's season between Tampa and Montreal. The last meeting between Auld and Williams was "just before Christmas." Williams said that he and Auld had "discussed the possibility of Orlando being part of a split-season scenario after the team's use agreement expires in St. Petersburg" in '27. But he added that he is "not interested in sharing a team." Frago noted in November, Williams "unveiled the Orlando Dreamers proposal" to bring an MLB team to the city. At the time, Williams was "vague about whether the team would pursue an expansion franchise or an existing team." Now, Williams is "confident that Orlando can lure the Rays to a new ballpark ready for the first pitch" of the '28 season. Five years ago, Orlando "passed St. Petersburg to become the state's fourth-largest city," just behind Tampa at No. 3. Williams said that St. Petersburg "simply isn't big enough to support a major-league team" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/8).
