Multiple investors vying to buy Tampa Bay Rays

Several groups of investors are interested in buying the Tampa Bay Rays, the Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. At least four parties have expressed interest as pressure mounts for current owner Stuart Sternberg to sell the franchise. Forbes values the team at about $1.25 billion. Interest from local investors intensified just days before the Rays withdrew from a proposed stadium deal in St. Petersburg. Although the potential buyers have not publicly named their financial backers, hints have surfaced about connections to influential local families, including the DeBartolos, prominent in the Tampa sports scene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on the situation, noting he has heard speculation about a sale for years. However, he indicated that no concrete changes have occurred. Meanwhile, team president Matt Silverman insisted that the team is not for sale, but did not dismiss the possibility if a good offer arises. Joe Molloy, a former New York Yankees executive and current local educator, leads one of the interested groups. He has support from local investors but did not specify details due to confidentiality agreements. Molloy's group aims to pursue the downtown stadium project and improve Rays' community engagement. Carter McCain, another attorney in Tampa, represents a different group of potential buyers, including investors from outside the state. His team is also interested in building a stadium but focusing on opportunities in the local market. Dan Doyle Jr., CEO of DEX Imaging, has previously shown interest in purchasing the Rays. He is now allied with a new group that also aims to create a ballpark deal in Tampa. Additionally, a group from Orlando, known as the Orlando Dreamers, is looking to move the Rays or establish a new MLB franchise in their city. They have claimed to secure substantial financial backing for a stadium project, although past efforts to bring baseball to Orlando have not been successful. The situation around the Rays remains fluid, with various groups vying for ownership, but no formal offers have been made yet. As discussions and speculation continue, the future of the team in Tampa Bay hangs in the balance.