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No Tropicana Field return for Evan Longoria in 2019

The Rays won't get to welcome back traded franchise cornerstone third baseman Evan Longoria.
 
San Francisco Giants' Evan Longoria, left, watches his RBI single Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. [AP Photo/Lynne Sladky]
San Francisco Giants' Evan Longoria, left, watches his RBI single Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. [AP Photo/Lynne Sladky]
Published June 25, 2018

The Rays take their once-every-three- years turn playing NL West teams in 2019. But, based on an early draft of the schedule, won't get to welcome back traded franchise cornerstone 3B Evan Longoria.

The Rays will face Longoria's new team, the Giants, but only in San Francisco, making just their second ever visit to AT&T Park.

RELATED: Longoria says Rays may be better off leaving Tampa Bay area

Per an early tentative draft of the 2019 schedule circulating among baseball officials, there won't be a return visit to Tropicana Field.

And under the current scheduling format, the Rays won't play the NL West teams again until 2022. The Rays traded Longoria to the Giants in December 2017.

The Rays next year also will visit the Padres in San Diego, play home-and-home series with the Dodgers and Marlins, and host the Rockies and D'backs.

The Rays would open at home March 28 vs. the Astros and finish at Toronto on Sept. 29.

RELATED: Longoria feels "like an outsider looking in" at former Rays squad

Also of note is a home Friday off, Aug. 2, before facing the Marlins.

The finalized schedule will be released in September.