The City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and Rays leadership have "set an aggressive timeline" of the end of this year for reaching a deal to "move the team across the bay" for the '28 MLB season, according to Charlie Frago of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. It is an "ambitious plan that requires a sign-off" by both prospective Montreal MLB team owner Stephen Bronfman and MLB on the split-season concept. The parties met yesterday, after which Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said that they were "encouraged by the tenor of the conversation about finding a home for the Rays in Tampa" after the '27 season. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has said that he "intends to hold the team to its commitment to play in his city until its use agreement to play at Tropicana Field expires" after the '27 season. Kriseman has not commented publicly on any negotiations with the Rays, but city council members who he has briefed privately say that the mayor "hasn't given up trying to keep the Rays" in St. Petersburg. Frago notes Ybor City "remains the preferred Hillsborough County site for the Rays." But Hagan said that the team indicated it is "open to other Hillsborough locations if they proved viable" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/11). Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg said that his "sole focus was trying to make the Sister City concept work, an idea to which Hillsborough County seems more receptive than St. Petersburg" (MLB.com, 2/10).
