A Jacksonville group led by billionaire Patrick Zalupski have agreed to buy the Rays for an estimated price of $1.7 billion, according to The Athletic. The deal is expected to be finalized by September after negotiations took place over the past weeks. The Rays' principal owner, Stu Sternberg, bought the franchise in 2004 for $200 million.

Thanks to Hurricane Milton, the Rays called Steinbrenner Field home for the 2025 season. And despite adapting to new confines and injuries, the Rays are in the playoff race heading into the second half,

The Athletic also reports: "Zalupski is expected to keep the team in the Tampa Bay area, with a strong preference to be in Tampa rather than St. Petersburg, the source said." Sternberg, who originally took control of the team in 2005,