New Rays owners are set to talk Tuesday. And we’ve got some questions

After months of negotiating, plotting and planning, the new Rays owners will step up to the mic on Tuesday morning to make an important first impression.Patrick Zalupski, Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby presumably will say how excited they are to be here, how honored they are to take over the Rays, how determined they are to build on the past success and how eager they are to get started.And then the news conference should get really interesting.The sale of any sports franchise typically brings lots of questions, given the connection and relationship between fans and team.Those will be multiplied given the circumstances and situation the Rays are in.Here are 10 topics we expect to be discussed, and will be curious to hear their answers about:- A new stadium is arguably their highest priority issue. How strongly committed to the Tampa Bay area are they? How quickly will they get working seriously on it? What is their ideal timeline to have a deal in place? Shovels in the ground? Opening day? Fixed roof or retractable? - Is the Tampa side their preferred choice, as rumored? Are there options beyond those previously identified — Ybor Harbor, Hillsborough College, Rocky Point Golf Course, Florida State Fairgrounds, WestShore Plaza, the former Tampa Greyhound Track? How much help will the political connections of Zalupski and investor Will Weatherford be?- Are Pinellas sites still in play? Would they revisit the previously agreed-to deal at the Trop site that was part of the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment ? Noting the inclusion in the group of Rick Workman, the former anchor investor in the Orlando group seeking a team, is Orlando in the current stadium site conversation? A fallback option? - Having spent a reported $1.7 billion for the team, how do they plan to pay for the stadium? Do they have enough money to cover that, too? Are they eyeing more of a public partnership? And how, ideally, would that be divided? - Staying on stadiums, how involved will they be on the scope of repairs to the Trop? Are they looking to make any improvements there? Do they have a Plan B if it isn’t ready as planned on April 6? Related, how soon do they address a short-term Trop extension, given the lease is only through 2028 and a new stadium likely won’t be ready by 2029? - Let’s talk some baseball: The Rays’ payroll typically has been among the bottom-five teams annually — roughly $80 million this past season. Will that change significantly for 2026, or anytime in the future? - Will they continue the Rays’ philosophy of building through player development and trades, or become bigger players for high-end free agents? Such as, say, Tampa product Kyle Tucker? What about extending current players like Junior Caminero, whose price will only be going up?- With baseball operations president Erik Neander staying, what changes will there be to the baseball operations group? The onfield staff? The business side? How games look to fans? Or on TV/radio? - When Stuart Sternberg took over in October 2005, he offered free parking for the next season. Are the owners planning any kind of similar gesture to the fans? Parking? Lower ticket prices? Concession/ merchandise specials? - There’s been talk about this being a local group, but only a few of the first 10 investors to be named have Tampa Bay ties. Who is in this “robust group of limited partners with deep connections” to the area that’s been mentioned, and how will those connections help?Carlos Rodriguez made official Wednesday what he had been talking about for a while: leaving the Rays after an “incredible” 15-year career that included the last four as vice president/assistant general manager.Rodriguez was involved in the signing of key players such as Jose Alvarado, Jonathan Aranda, Wander Franco, Cristopher Sanchez (who was traded to Phillies) and the trade for Caminero. He also was heavily involved in the expansion of the Rays’ academy in the Dominican Republic.“I’ve decided the time is right to step away and transition to explore other opportunities. ... While it’s difficult to step away, I’m excited to see what the future holds and confident the organization is in great hands moving forward,” Rodriguez said.The Rays are expected to fill Rodriguez’s assistant GM role from within and likely stick with their setup of having four assistants but no actual general manager under Neander.Caminero said he won’t play winter ball in the Dominican this year, looking forward to resting, at least until the November birth of his first child. He also said he is hopeful of playing in the World Baseball Classic but hasn’t heard anything yet. ... Caminero is a candidate for the Juan Marichal Award, given Oct. 20 to the most outstanding Dominican player in the majors. ... Aranda said he may play some winter ball in his native Mexico but it will be geared toward getting ready for the WBC, which he is excited about. ... The Rays finished 29th in attendance , their average at Steinbrenner Field of 9,712 just ahead of the A’s’ 9,487 in Sacramento. Overall, the Rays’ total of 786,750 was a drop of 41% from their 2024 total of 1,337,739 (and average of 16,515). ... MLB Pipeline’s season-ending top 100 prospects list has shortstop Carson Williams at No. 50 and outfielder Theo Gillen No. 65. ... Catcher Matt Thaiss, who was acquired from the White Sox in May and then designated for assignment in August and outrighted to Triple A, elected free agency. ... Drew Rasmussen was 19th on MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac’s list of top starters. ... Mason Auer, converting from outfielder to pitcher, was MLB.com’s choice as the Rays’ under-the-radar prospect to watch in Arizona Fall League play, which starts Monday. ... Rays prospect Brody Hopkins and Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski shared the top spot for four-seam fastballs in Baseball America’s Stuff+ rankings, an analytic using velocity, vertical and horizontal movement, extension and release height. • • • Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook .

New Rays owners are set to talk Tuesday. And we’ve got some questions

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