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.<\/p>\n
Manfred has said repeatedly MLB wants the team to remain in the Tampa Bay area. He didn\u2019t have much to offer Wednesday about the Rays\u2019 extended future, speculation about a potential sale or new stadium possibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clear they\u2019re going to honor their lease through \u201928,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t really have anything to add beyond that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Travis Jankowski a free agentTravis 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\u2019 Triple-A team. [\u00a0CHRIS O’MEARA | AP\u00a0]<\/p>\n
After being acquired from the White Sox\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 Triple-A team.<\/p>\n
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Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cReally good player and probably better person,\u201d Cash said. \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see how this plays out. I know he\u2019s a free agent, but if we have the opportunity, we\u2019d love to get him back and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Miscellany The announced attendance was 8,994, the sixth time in 39 games and fourth in the last five the Rays didn\u2019t 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 <\/a>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\u2019 2024 top draft pick, was named the team\u2019s 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 \u2153 innings, was the top pitcher. <\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nRays 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. [\u00a0LUIS SANTANA | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n