Major League Baseball

The state holds the right to take back the 22 acres if the “components” of the new stadium do not exist within five years of the transfer, according to the Cabinet's agenda item.

Florida hosts 15 baseball teams for spring training, but no town has been "all in" and for so long as Lakeland, where the Detroit Tigers have stuck around since 1934.

The Cabinet will review a proposal for using 22 acres of state land for the Rays' 113-acre mixed-use ballpark development, with the requirement of integrating the college and team in a revised master plan.

The Tampa Bay Rays' home opener is set for April 6 against the Chicago Cubs. It'll be the first game at Tropicana Field since Hurricane Milton ripped off part of the fiberglass roof in 2024.

After Tampa Bay's split from FanDuel Sports, MLB will produce telecasts through Rays.TV as well as traditional cable and satellite outlets. Dewayne Staats and Brian Anderson are back to call the games.

Evan Longoria, who signed a one-day contract to retire with Tampa Bay last season, will be honored during "Longo Legacy Weekend." The team also announced fan promotional giveaways for 2026.

The move ensures all 162 games will be available through local cable or satellite providers, or national broadcasts, as well as MLB’s streaming service. Channel lineups will be released soon.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said he's confident the Rays can work out a deal to build a stadium on the North Dale Mabry campus. If not, he told WDAE, don't be surprised if they end up in Orlando.

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.