TAMPA — Repairs to Tropicana Field are “moving along,” and Major League Baseball officials “remain optimistic” work will be completed in time for the Rays to return for the 2026 season, commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday.
But Manfred did acknowledge two caveats.
One is exactly when the stadium will be ready to host a game, as Manfred said they are expecting “either for opening day or very shortly thereafter.”
The league can address that issue by scheduling the Rays to open the season on the road, perhaps on an extended trip.
The other point Manfred made is one all Tampa Bay area residents have to consider regarding summer plans.
“Obviously, the big contingency is what happens with hurricane season, right?” Manfred said at the quarterly owners meeting in New York. “There’s not much you can do about that other than keep your fingers crossed. But we are hopeful that we’ll get it ready for opening day 2026.”
The repairs are being done by the City of St. Petersburg, which in April approved spending $22.5 million on a new roof, which has been ordered. Prep work will start in mid-June, with installation in August. The City Council will vote Thursday on whether to spend about $5 million for a series of other expected repairs and expenses. The total cost of the project, some of which will be covered by insurance, is projected to be about $56 million.
The Rays are committed to play at the Trop through 2028, as their agreement was extended a year by playing this season at Steinbrenner Field due to the damage from Hurricane Milton.
Manfred has said repeatedly MLB wants the team to remain in the Tampa Bay area. He didn’t have much to offer Wednesday about the Rays’ extended future, speculation about a potential sale or new stadium possibilities.
“It’s clear they’re going to honor their lease through ’28,” he said. “I don’t really have anything to add beyond that right now.”
Travis Jankowski a free agent![Travis Jankowski celebrates after a walkoff hit against the Brewers May 10 in Tampa. Having cleared waivers, Jankowski on Wednesday opted to enter free agency rather than accept an assignment to the Rays’ Triple-A team.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 348"/%3E "Travis Jankowski celebrates after a walkoff hit against the Brewers May 10 in Tampa. Having cleared waivers, Jankowski on Wednesday opted to enter free agency rather than accept an assignment to the Rays’ Triple-A team.")
Travis Jankowski celebrates after a walkoff hit against the Brewers May 10 in Tampa. Having cleared waivers, Jankowski on Wednesday opted to enter free agency rather than accept an assignment to the Rays’ Triple-A team. [ CHRIS O’MEARA | AP ]
After being acquired from the White Sox’s Triple-A team in late April, Travis Jankowski filled in well for two-plus weeks when the Rays were short on healthy outfielders until getting hurt himself in mid-May.
With the Rays roster now restocked and his sore groin healed, Jankowski was placed on and passed through outright waivers. Wednesday, he opted to enter free agency rather than accept an assignment to the Rays’ Triple-A team.
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Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays appreciated what the 33-year-old did on and off the field, and would welcome his return to the organization.
“Really good player and probably better person,” Cash said. “The teammate that he showed, the impact that he had … I know the guys really appreciated his perspective, and we can all learn a little bit from him.
“We’ll see how this plays out. I know he’s a free agent, but if we have the opportunity, we’d love to get him back and see what happens.”
Miscellany![Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, left, congratulates second baseman Brandon Lowe after Lowe's solo homer in the first inning of Wednesday's game against the Rangers.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E "Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, left, congratulates second baseman Brandon Lowe after Lowe's solo homer in the first inning of Wednesday's game against the Rangers.")
Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, left, congratulates second baseman Brandon Lowe after Lowe’s solo homer in the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Rangers. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
The announced attendance was 8,994, the sixth time in 39 games and fourth in the last five the Rays didn’t sell out Steinbrenner Field, with a capacity of 10,046. … Rehabbing infielder Ha-Seong Kim went 0-for-4 for Triple-A Durham and is hitting .087 (2-for-23) in seven games. … Phase 1 online voting started Wednesday at mlb.com for the July 15 All-Star Game starters; Rays on the ballot are Jonathan Aranda (first base), Brandon Lowe (second base), Junior Caminero (third base), Taylor Walls (shortstop), Danny Jansen (catcher), Yandy Diaz (DH) and Jose Caballero, Josh Lowe and Christoper Morel (outfield). … Low-A Charleston outfielder Theo Gillen, the Rays’ 2024 top draft pick, was named the team’s top minor-league player for May after hitting .310 with a 1.017 OPS. Triple-A Durham reliever Paul Gervase, who made eight scoreless appearances and struck out 21 in 13 ⅓ innings, was the top pitcher.
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