Tampa Bay Rays

It's full steam ahead for the Tampa Bay Rays to get a new stadium after Pinellas County, Florida commissioners voted 5-2 to put $312.5 million in tourist development tax dollars "toward the design and building" of a ballpark, per Jack Evans of the Tampa Bay Times.

The stadium would be the main attraction of a "mixed-use development" in downtown St. Petersburg. Building would begin in 2025, with a goal to be ready by Opening Day of the 2028 season.

"The county's projections for the project include more than $400 million in total economic output and 15,000 jobs and more than $1 billion in taxes," Evans added.

The stadium is expected to cost $1.3 billion, with the Rays' coverage coming in at $700 million in addition to cost overruns, per Evans. The St. Petersburg City Council approved its portion of the project, including $287.5 million for the stadium, less than two weeks ago.

Front Office Sports provided more details.

St. Petersburg City Council has voted to approve the Rays' new $1.3 billion ballpark.

• Capacity: 30,000
• Fixed pavilion roof
• "Baseball's most intimate setting" with 70% of seats in the lower 2-3 levelshttps://t.co/bqQ3mYQ0Pk pic.twitter.com/kYfFE1WAnQ

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 18, 2024

The ballpark will be part of a $6.5 billion redevelopment project in the Historic Gas Plant district, "including homes, hotels, office space, a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida and an entertainment venue," per Evans.

The Rays have been at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida since the team's 1998 debut. The stadium routinely sits at or near the bottom of annual MLB stadium rankings, and the team usually sits near the bottom of the attendance list, including third-to-last in 2024.

There had been chatter of the team relocating, but that appears to be put to bed now with all momentum moving toward the Rays staying put.

The Tampa Bay Rays may not be done selling after cashing in on two of their best trade assets.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported Sunday the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners have both discussed a deal for Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz.

The fire sale appears to be on for Tampa Bay. On Friday, the team sent 2023 All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena and followed up Sunday by trading relief pitcher Jason Adam to the San Diego Padres.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Friday the Rays were "expected to listen" to offers for Díaz. He included the Pittsburgh Pirates in the mix with Houston and Seattle.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had also reported Thursday that Díaz was a "name of interest" for the Texas Rangers.

The 32-year-old is having a down year compared to 2022 and 2023. Through 96 games, he has just nine home runs and a .272/.327/.400 slash line, and his 108 OPS+ is on pace to be the second-lowest of his career.

YEET-HAW YANDY pic.twitter.com/ijFo3wW3Qt

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 6, 2024

According to FanGraphs, Díaz is walking less than he ever has (7.3 percent) and has a batting average on balls in play .302 below his all-time mark (.322).

In terms of his raw power, though, the veteran corner infielder has a 92.6 mph average exit velocity and a 49.7 percent hard hit rate, per Baseball Savant. Both of those figures are on par with his past production in Tampa Bay.

Díaz is on a reasonable contract as well. He makes $10 million in 2025 and has a $12 million club option, which doesn't have a buyout, for 2026.

The Rays are 53-52 and only four games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League, but they seem to be waving the white flag prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. It might only be a matter of time before Díaz is in a different clubhouse.

As the July 30 MLB trade deadline quickly approaches, the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly open to offers for some of their top players.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Rays "will listen" to calls for outfielder Randy Arozarena, first baseman Yandy Díaz and third baseman Isaac Paredes.

Morosi named the Seattle Mariners as a team that has "interest in adding an impact bat." While they have "have yet to engage in serious dialogue" with the Rays, he added that "the teams are frequent trading partners and talks could advance in the days ahead."

Entering the second half of the 2024 season, the Rays rank fourth in the AL East with a 48-48 record and appear to be on their way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Still, it would be a bit of a surprise if Tampa Bay gave up one of its top three batters.

Díaz leads the team with a .273 batting average and 104 hits. Paredes ranks first with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, a .364 on-base percentage and a .459 slugging percentage. Arozarena is tied for second on the team with 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases.

The Rays have an uphill battle in the competitive AL East that is led by the Baltimore Orioles (58-38) and the New York Yankees (58-40). Tampa Bay could be ready to make some changes and build for the future, so teams around the league could take advantage with an enticing deal for the Rays' top hitters.

Tampa Bay will return to action on Friday at home against the Yankees.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has officially been charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor in the Dominican Republic, per ESPN's Juan Recio.

There was an initial deadline of July 5 to present charges against Franco. Recio was informed by Puerto Plata District Office Prosecutor Kelmin Duncan and the spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office, Nairobi Viloria, that they formally presented the accusation on Tuesday.

Franco has been moved to MLB's restricted list as a result of the charges:

More #Rays Franco news:

With charges filed, Franco’s stay on administrative leave ended. Team requested, MLB approved shift to restricted list since he can’t report to play, meaning he now won’t get paid or service time as he had. Not a disciplinary action to the charges.

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 10, 2024

MLB issued a statement on the matter on Wednesday:

MLB statement: “We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco. Our investigation remains open, and we will continue to closely monitor the case as it moves forward.”

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) July 10, 2024

The charges against Franco are the result of an investigation dating back to July 10, 2023, when a complaint was filed that accused him of allegedly having sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl.

Recio noted that on Jan. 3, Dominican prosecutors initially accused Franco of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The mother of the girl faced the same charges. After reviewing the evidence, a judge in the Dominican Republic accused Franco of a lesser charge of sexual and psychological abuse.

A 600-page document was presented to the judge that contained the evidence prosecutors found against Franco, including transcripts of interviews with the girl and her relatives as well as messages between her and Franco, per ESPN.

Franco was placed on administrative leave earlier this year and has not played in a game since last August. When the allegations first surfaced, a source familiar with the situation told MLB insider Héctor Gómez, "It will be very unlikely that Wander Franco will play in MLB again."

MLB and the MLB Players Association recently extended Franco's leave through July 14, a procedural move while his criminal case in the Dominican Republic played out. MLB is conducting its own investigation, which is not expected to be completed until after his criminal case is resolved.

The Rays signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract extension in November 2021.

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Amed Rosario says he received two stitches after being hit in the head with a 99-mile-per-hour fastball in the top of Saturday's first inning in Pittsburgh.

"I feel good. Luckily it wasn't anything worse," Rosario said through a translator after the Rays' 4-3 loss to the Pirates (h/t Bally Sports Florida.) "It wasn't too much. They gave me just two stitches on there."

Amed Rosario provides an update on how he's feeling after taking a 100 MPH pitch to the face early in Saturday's game. 🎙 pic.twitter.com/QjRh2H6QEc

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) June 22, 2024

Rosario was struck in the helmet on a third pitch from Pirates rookie Jared Jones.

A scary scene in Pittsburgh as Amed Rosario takes a 100 mph pitch to the face.

Rosario appears to be okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/7rnXSjtI4V

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) June 22, 2024

Bally Sports' Tricia Whitaker reported that Rosario suffered "facial lacerations," but that an initial evaluation did not reveal any broken bones on the injury.

"I'm not sure what hit first. I know it hit my arm, and I know it hit the C-flap, which is what caused the cut," Rosario said through his translator.

Rosario added that he believed that the ball making contact with the C-flap, the attachment on the batter's helmet that protects the cheek and jaw, prevented worse injury.

Outfielder Richie Palacios came in to run for Rosario, and second baseman José Caballero took over his infield spot in the bottom of the frame.

Whitaker later reported that Rosario had returned to the dugout, although he did not take an at-bat for the rest of the game.

The eight-year MLB veteran said he was more concerned about missing time Saturday than about the severity of the facial injury.

When asked if he expected to miss additional time, Rosario said, "I hope not."

"That's the decision of the trainers in there, so we'll see what happens," Rosario said.

Rosario, who began his career with the New York Mets before stints with the Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers, signed with the Rays in February.

He has played a variety of defensive positions in Tampa Bay while slashing a career-best .301/.323/.416 through 59 games heading into Saturday's contest.

The Rays' three-game winning streak ended Saturday as the team dropped to 37-40. Tampa Bay will hope to have Rosario back in the lineup as the team faces another Pirates rookie pitcher when Paul Skenes takes the mound Sunday.

Teams are reportedly planning to target outfielder Randy Arozarena, first baseman Yandy Díaz and second baseman Brandon Lowe in trade talks with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the July 30 trade deadline.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported teams are hoping they can "buy low" on the Rays' most expensive players given the team's last-place standing in the AL East.

Arozarena is in the midst of his worst professional season. He's hitting .175/.283/.319 with eight home runs and 20 runs batted in through his first 65 games. While Arozarena has two years of arbitration remaining, he's already earning $8.1 million this season and will be well into eight figures in 2025.

Díaz has regressed mightily from his breakout 2023 campaign, putting up a disappointing .258/.328/.358 slash line with four home runs and 29 runs batted in. The 32-year-old's regression from his 22 home runs last season was expected—he'd never hit more than 14 in a season any year prior—but his .258 batting average is the second-worst of his career.

The Rays have Díaz under contract at manageable numbers in 2025 ($10 million) and 2026 ($12 million), but he's still a trade target given his underperformance.

Lowe carries a $10.5 million club option for the 2025 season and has not done much to impress this season. He's spent most of the season on the injured list and is slashing .205/.313/.398 when he's in the lineup.

Rival teams clearly think a change of scenery will help turn things around, but it's fair to wonder whether the Rays will balk at selling low on players wildly underperforming their means.

The MLB and MLBPA have extended administrative leave for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco through July 14, per the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin and ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Gonzalez described the six-and-a-half week extension as "a procedural move to buy more time for new developments to materialize in a potential criminal case."

Franco has been on administrative leave since last August, following social media rumors alleging he had engaged in a relationship with a minor. Prosecutors from his native Dominican Republic subsequently accused him of having a relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21.

The administrative leave, under which Franco continues to receive his $2 million salary, was previously set to expire on June 1.

Franco stands accused of sexual and psychological abuse in the Dominican Republic, Martín Adames Alcántara reported for the Associated Press.

He has not yet been formally accused, although prosecutors plan to bring formal accusations to court in June, according to William Aish of El Nuevo Diario (h/t Topkin.)

If found guilty, Franco could be sentenced to two to five years in prison, per Alcántara.

Dominican authorities have until July 5 to formally charge Franco, Juan Carlos Chavez reported for the Tampa Bay Times.

MLB is also holding its own investigation of Franco for potentially violating the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, according to Chavez.

Both Gonzalez and Topkin have reported that the league investigation, which could lead to Franco's suspension, is expected to conclude only after the potential criminal case is decided in the Dominican Republic.

Franco, who turned 23 in March, earned his first career All-Star nomination in 2023 prior to his departure from the team. He has $174 million remaining on his contract with the Rays, which runs through 2032.

The Tampa Bay Rays released new renderings for their proposed $1.3 billion stadium in downtown St. Petersburg on Thursday.

NEW RAYS STADIUM ⚾ The Tampa Bay Rays unveiled new renderings, along with an aerial view of its proposed downtown St. Pete stadium.

Read more details: https://t.co/oD7aN2ZQM4 pic.twitter.com/8pg3xkxNnh

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) May 30, 2024

The Tampa Bay Rays have released the first detailed look at their planned $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg.

• Capacity: 30,000
• Fixed pavilion roof
• "Baseball's most intimate setting" with 70% of seats in the lower 2-3 levels

It’s set to be done by Opening Day 2028. pic.twitter.com/pkxoEVoLn4

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 30, 2024

The stadium will be built as part of the Historic Gas Plant District Development, with the expectation that it will be open by Opening Day in 2028 if the St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Commission approve of the plans.

The club's current lease agreement with the city expires in 2027.

"Our baseball park will be the most intimate and inviting in the sport," Rays' President Matt Silverman said in a statement. "The park is designed to bring our fans as close to the field as possible, to create a distinctive, compelling game experience."

The team has said its vision for the new stadium was to create Major League Baseball's "most intimate ballpark, bringing the outside inside with windows, porches and an innovative design."

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri and Milwaukee Brewer pitcher Abner Uribe spoke Tuesday night about what led to the altercation that sparked a benches-clearing brawl late in the Brewers' 8-2 win.

Siri said the conflict began when Uribe hit him as he was headed to first base.

"When I went to first base, I just went there normal, and he kind of hit me on the shoulder, so I asked him why did he do that. And he just said, 'Because I felt like it,'" Siri said.

Siri continued: "From right there nothing was said. That's when he threw the first punch, and I defended myself with the two punches."

"That's when he threw the first punch and I defended myself with the two punches."

Rays outfielder Jose Siri shares his perspective on what led to the benches clearing tonight in Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/NkR56pMzGA

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) May 1, 2024

Uribe also spoke about the altercation after the game.

"I think there were some words shared that didn't have much to do with the game... Just one of those moments that got into a [heated] situation," Uribe said. "I think that's something that's probably best to look back on video and see how exactly the exchange went down and what happened."

Abner Uribe tells his side of the story regarding his altercation with Jose Siri: pic.twitter.com/NF4rNx0Hcg

— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 1, 2024

The brawl occurred after Siri and Uribe exchanged blows during the top of the eighth inning of the Brewers' 8-2 win over the Rays.

Benches clear in the Rays/Brewers game 😱

(via @BallySportWI)pic.twitter.com/KmIJ4AT83S

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 1, 2024

Siri hit his second home run of the season in the third inning off of Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta.

When he came up to the plate again in the sixth, Peralta hit him in the leg on a 3-0 pitch, resulting in ejections for the pitcher and Brewers manager Pat Murphy.

Freddy Peralta and Pat Murphy have been ejected from the game. #ThisIsMyCrew | #MLB pic.twitter.com/zBDgpzp08Z

— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) May 1, 2024

"I don't know if he did it on purpose. He's a good pitcher. Maybe he wanted to hit me instead of giving me the walk," Siri said about the sixth-inning hit-by-pitch, which marked Peralta's third of the game.

During his next at-bat in the eighth, Siri hit a ground-out to first base, which Uribe jogged over to cover.

As the two passed one another, Uribe's glove appeared to make contact with Siri's leg, at which point Siri turned around and spoke to him.

"The whole thing was, when I asked him why he did that, and he gave me that response, and that was it," Siri said.

Uribe said he wasn't expecting the benches to clear when the altercation with Siri began.

"That's not really a situation that you want to happen," Uribe said. "But then you kind of have to handle it as it is once everyone is out there on the field."

Both Uribe and Siri were ejected from the game and could face further discipline Wednesday when the MLB weighs in on the altercation.

This is not the first brawl of the season for the Brewers. The benches also cleared at Citi Field in March after the New York Mets objected to a hard slide to second base by Milwaukee first baseman Rhys Hoskins.

The Tampa Bay Rays became the latest team to reveal their City Connect jerseys with a look that will hearken back to their period as the Devil Rays.

https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/1784969946428023141

First wear is Friday, but we’re going against the grain all weekend. pic.twitter.com/BbPk42sRPs

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 29, 2024

Grit x Glow make up the fabric of our DNA 🧬

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 29, 2024

The Rays will debut their new look Friday against the New York Mets.

Twenty-three teams currently have City Connect uniforms. Five more will have theirs unveiled later this season, leaving the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics as the only clubs remaining without the unique jerseys.

The Yankees have long been traditionalists regarding how they're presented on the field, while the A's franchise is in flux as the team prepares for a move to Las Vegas.

City Connect uniforms have leaned heavily on blacks and grays, but the Rays' neon lettering makes them stand out in the crowd. The colors are a throwback to the team's initial run as the Devil Rays, which was their name for the franchise's first decade of existence. Tampa shortened the name to the Rays in 2008.

Rays vice president of creative and brand Warren Hypes said the jersey design was meant to honor Tampa's "counterculture scenes," most notably skateboarding.

"Again, going back to the grit it takes to try a trick hundreds of times before you land it and looking at how that has parallels with baseball and all the hard work it takes. All the time in the cage, bullpen sessions, everything else it takes to have your big moment in baseball," he told Anthony Gharib of ESPN.