The Tampa Bay Rays Are Going To Play Their 2025 Home Games At the Yankees' Spring Training Complex

Mike Ehrmann. Getty Images.

I didn't realize until a week ago that the Rays were not going to be able to play at the Trop in 2025. Hurricane Milton ripping the roof off the Rays home left it inhabitable for baseball until repairs were set to be made. 

Well a month after that report came out, the Rays have found their home. Credit to the kind, gracious, respectable Yankees organization for opening up their arms to a hated rival and helping them during a time of crisis. George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees spring training complex, will host Rays home games next year. 

Very weird. I suppose the complex is right there in Tampa and can host around 11,000 fans. It's the best they're gonna do in this short of time if they're hellbent in staying in the vicinity. Will it be odd when the Yankees pull up as a visitor during the season? No doubt/ Will they be constantly delayed by rain all year long because they will be solely outside? No question. This will be a joke, but it's the Rays, that's what they are. Hard to consider going from a 40k capacity stadium to 11k an upgrade, but that's exactly what this is. Congrats to the Rays!

For the Yankees' troubles, they're gonna get around $15M in added revenue by being good pals. 

I'd suggest hooking that money up to Juan Soto's bank account for a quick direct deposit. Just send it now as a friendly gesture. Now that I think about it, the Rays should loan us Shane McClanahan or Pete Fairbanks while they're at it. 

No? Well, if I'm the Yankees I'm setting up booby traps all around the area. Have someone control that place with a remote from afar so you can set off the fire alarms and turn the lights off at a moment's notice. Have our spring home sure, but let's not forget how much of a dickhead Kevin Cash is. I want his office to be rigged to explode with paint at all times. Do not make this is peaceful transition. 

P.S. If the baseball gods have a sense of humor they'll manufacture a Rays-A's postseason series that involves games being played at a minor league stadium and a spring training complex.