Major League Baseball

Baseball's annual reset is almost here. The schedule has a few tweaks this year with the World Baseball Classic and Spring Breakout for prospects. Here's a quick info bank on the when, where and how much.

The team wants to build a stadium-anchored development on what is now the college's North Dale Mabry campus. The school's board of trustees voted unanimously to start negotiations with the team.

Commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB is ready to step in after Tampa Bay and eight other teams opted to split from FanDuel owner Main Street Sports Group, which lost approximately $200 million in 2025.

They have until Feb. 3 to pitch their plans to redevelop the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District.

Franco was convicted of sexually abusing a minor and given a two-year suspended sentence. An appeals court granted the request of Franco's attorneys, ordering a new panel of judges to oversee the case.

The Rays made it official that they'll be back at a repaired Tropicana Field this season and say they are offering a 15% cut on more than two-thirds of the seats. Also, a return to earlier weeknight game times.

The World Baseball Classic puts a few twists on the Grapefruit and Cactus League slates. Tampa Bay opens Feb. 21 in Port Charlotte and makes only one trip to the Steinbrenner Field.

The store is anticipated to operate throughout early 2026 and into the spring. That would leave little downtime before the April 6 home opener.

The Rays' new owners are talking about a "public-private partnership" being the only way a new stadium could be built in the Tampa Bay area. There are a few ways that could take shape.

Will the Rays consider an open-field stadium or a retractable roof? And will the new owners increase player payroll? They addressed these, and other issues, during their introductory news conference.

At an introductory news conference, Patrick Zalupski and top executives Ken Babby and Bill Cosgrove said there is a sense of urgency to get a ballpark built as part of a revenue-generating, mixed-use development.

Patrick Zalupski closed on the reported $1.7 billion purchase from Stuart Sternberg. And the first order of business for the new owner: Finding a place for his team to play.