PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — It’s Spring Training time across the Major League Baseball landscape and look no further than our very own Rays for the most drama-laden offseason in years.
As the seemingly solved Rays stadium saga segued from “Here to Stay” after lawmakers approved stadium funding in downtown St. Petersburg to a now more ambiguous wait-and-see with a March 31 deadline looming, the Rays future off the field remains murky at best.
And the already-frustrating stadium process took an unexpected hit last fall when Hurricane Milton battered Tropicana Field, ripping off its roof and lending more chaos to a team working on a long-term home stadium deal. The Rays will spend the 2025 season playing its home games outdoors at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
But as attention now turns back to the field, the Rays say there will be no distractions as they attempt to shake off their first losing season since 2017 and return to the postseason again, as the team did each campaign from 2019 to 2023.
Rays' pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, Feb. 12, with the first full-squad workout slated for Feb. 17.
The Rays will play their first exhibition game, Feb. 21, against the Yankees in Tampa.
What will the Rays look like on the field in 2025?
Regardless of the chaos swirling around the Tampa Bay Rays stadium situation and the short and long-term, team brass is resolute in their pursuit of winning on the field.
Off-season moves have continued during the winter, including the major move of signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who spent last season with San Diego.
- Rays Spring Training information (stadium, directions, parking, tickets)
- Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training schedule 2025
Kim is expected to take over as the team’s full-time shortstop once he is cleared to play from a shoulder injury which cut short his 2024 season with the Padres. Kim signed a two-year, $29-million deal with the Rays and is expected to return to the field in May.
Kim hit .233 with 11 homers and 47 RBI in 121 games in 2024. He has a career batting average of .242 in four MLB seasons in San Diego.
Kim is the major move in jump starting a Rays offense that struggled mightily last season, finishing the season next to last in runs scored.
Others that could contribute include free agent catcher Danny Jansen, and centerfielder Jonny DeLuca, who will take over for the traded Jose Siri. Also, the Rays signed DH Eloy Jimenez to a minor league deal and invited him to camp.
Jimenez, 28, spent five seasons with the White Sox before playing with Baltimore last season. Jimenez has hit 95 home runs in his six MLB seasons and could provide some pop in the lineup if he regains his form.
Fresh off an MVP-performance in the Dominican League semifinals, infielder Junior Caminero is set to become a stand out for the Rays.
He’ll be joined by familiar names: Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, Christopher Morel, Jonathan Aranda and Taylor Walls in the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay pitching staff, decimated by injuries a season ago, will be boosted by some returning arms.
Two-time all-star Shane McClanahan is expected back from Tommy John surgery. Drew Rasmussen was recently extended and is expected back in the starting rotation. Zack Littell, Ryan Pepiot, Taj Bradley and Shane Baz all figure in the starting rotation mix as well.
And the spring roster also will provide a glimpse of the future as prospects will be on display in Port Charlotte.
Highly regarded prospects, including MLB Top-10 ranked prospect Carson Williams, will play this spring. Fellow infielders Brayden Taylor, Xavier Isaac and Tre Morgan also are spring invitees, along with OF Chandler Simpson and catcher Dominic Keegan.
The stadium saga that seemingly has no end
The Rays recently secured $600 million from the city and county, which covers about half the cost of the new $1.3 billion stadium, but the team stated they need more money due to the delayed bond vote and remain ready to solve the funding gap with their partners. Foster expects that rhetoric to ratchet up over the next few months as the Rays near a March 31 deadline.
Rays officials have expressed optimism about a repaired Tropicana Field being their home for the 2026 season.
Rays president Matt Silverman said in a letter to St. Pete lawmakers the Rays now “support and expect” St. Petersburg to rebuild the Trop according to its current use agreement.
However, the letter does not mention any indication of the team’s plans regarding $1.3-billion stadium and Historic Gas Plant redevelopment deal in downtown St. Petersburg.
Silverman does say in the letter that the city and the team should “establish a working group with key city personnel to meet on not less than a weekly basis to discuss progress and implement key decisions.”
Pinellas County commissioners approved bonds to finance a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in December. The 5-2 vote unlocks $312 million in funding the county has pledged for the new ballpark.
The Rays have to meet several conditions on funding and designs by March 31 or the deal will automatically be terminated.
2025 Florida Grapefruit League Team Capsules and Locations
Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port
Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park at Fenway South, Fort Myers
Detroit Tigers – Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Houston Astros – CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
Minnesota Twins – Lee Health Sports Complex, Fort Myers
New York Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park, Bradenton
Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater
St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter
Tampa Bay Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin
Washington Nationals – CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
SPRING TRAINING STADIUMS