The Tampa Bay Rays, for the first time in their history, will actually play their home games in Tampa. The team’s home slate will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.

Tropicana Field, the Rays’ home facility, was “significantly damaged” during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, with the roof being ripped off. The Rays selected Steinbrenner Field because it was the “best-prepared facility in the Tampa Bay region,” according to a news release.

“We deeply appreciate that the Yankees have graciously allowed us to play at Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 season,’’ Rays owner Stu Sternberg said in the statement. “The hurricane damage to Tropicana Field has forced us to take some extraordinary steps.”

“We are happy to extend our hand to the Rays and their fans by providing a major-league quality facility for them to utilize this season,’’ Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “… We understand how meaningful it is for Rays players, employees and fans to have their 2025 home games take place within 30 minutes of Tropicana Field.”

There has been no determination yet as to how the change will impact the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate and Steinbrenner Field’s normal regular-season occupant.

The Rays also talked extensively to the Philadelphia Phillies about using the Phillies’ spring training complex in nearby Clearwater, which offered advantages because it’s also located in Pinellas County. However, the Rays opted for Tampa for several reasons. One is that Steinbrenner Field seats upward of 2,000 more fans, which could translate into significantly more revenue over 81 games.

Another is that the Yankees’ facility was viewed by the club as having facilities – particularly in and around the clubhouse – that are more suitable to housing a major league team over six months, as opposed to six weeks.

A third is that ultimately, the Rays preferred the central location offered by a stadium in Tampa, as opposed to Clearwater, which is a longer drive for much of their fan base.

A damage assessment report released earlier this week estimated that Tropicana Field would not be ready before 2026, and would cost around $55.7 million in repairs. It is possible much of the damage could have been avoided if the team had replaced its roof in the years prior.

With the team hoping to move into a new St. Petersburg venue in 2028, it is unclear what the long-term plan for the Rays will be beyond 2025. Steinbrenner Field has a capacity of 11,000 and notably does not have a roof given the rainy weather typical for the region throughout the summer. It has, however, recently undergone renovations to expand clubhouse space, improve the lighting and upgrade the facilities writ large.

The Rays will be the second MLB team playing in a minor-league stadium in 2025, with the Athletics planning to spend the next three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., ahead of their move to Las Vegas in 2028.

The Rays and league prioritized playing the team’s home games in the region, rather than moving to a larger or domed facility. It’s also not the first time regular-season games will be played at a Tampa-area spring training site. The Toronto Blue Jays opened the 2021 season with home games at their spring training site in Dunedin.

“Given the significant challenges caused by Hurricane Milton, I appreciate the hard work and collaboration between the two teams,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in the release. “This outcome meets Major League Baseball’s goals that Rays’ fans will see their team play next season in their home market and that their players can remain home without disruption to their families.”

Additional reporting by Chris Kirschner.
(Top photo of Steinbrenner Field in 2017: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The Eagles scored 20 fourth-quarter points to defeat the Commanders and create some distance in their lead in the NFC East.

The Commanders were behind 12-10 when they were stopped on second- and third-and-1. Buoyed by an early-season hot streak, coach Dan Quinn called his rookie quarterback’s number on fourth-and-2 from the Eagles 26.

Jayden Daniels juggled the snap, scrambled to his right and was hammered out of bounds by linebacker Zack Baun.

The Eagles took over on downs. The defining win for the Commanders under Quinn and Daniels has to wait.

Shortly after that misfire, Saquon Barkley rushed for the first of his two fourth-quarter touchdowns to give division-leading Philadelphia a two-score lead, and the Eagles (8-2) sent the Commanders (7-4) to their second straight loss, 26-18 on Thursday night.

“Bold call,” Quinn said. “I’d also say we were prepared for that moment. Didn’t love the execution. But we’ve been an excellent fourth-down team. Going into it, we knew we’d have to take our shots against a tough division team on the road. We didn’t like the execution or the result. But we were prepared for that.”

Plan B was the field goal.

Zane Gonzalez, promoted off the practice squad with Austin Seibert dealing with a hip injury, made a 45-yarder in the third quarter for a 10-3 lead. Quinn decided not to give him another shot from about 44 yards out for a 13-12 lead.

“To be the heavy hitters that we want to be, you’ve got to be able to close,” Quinn said. “How do you learn the lesson to close? That’s what we’re going to become. You knew this adversity was coming. It just does.”

Daniels finished 22 of 32 for 191 yards and a late touchdown pass. He was intercepted by safety Reed Blankenship late in the fourth, setting up Barkley’s second TD.

As for the decisive fourth-down call, Daniels said, “I’m always a part of, hey let’s go for it.”

It was a frustrating night for Daniels and top receiver Terry McLaurin, who exceeded 100 yards receiving in last Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh for the fourth time in the past eight games, accumulating 113 on five catches.

McLaurin had just one catch for 10 yards against the Eagles and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

“It happens,” McLaurin said. “I can only control what I can.”

Quinn said he would give the Commanders a couple of extra days off ahead of the stretch run. The Commanders play four of their next five games at home, starting Nov. 24 against Dallas.

They need a breather.

While the Eagles had the earliest bye in the NFL in Week 5, the Commanders have the latest in Week 14, and the injuries are piling up after a relatively healthy start to the season.

“I feel like we’ll respond great,” Daniels said. “We’ll rest up and get back to it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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THURSDAY’S RESULT

SOUTHERN SECTION

Quarterfinals

Division 11

El Rancho 40, Los Amigos 20

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

CITY SECTION

Quarterfinals

Open Division

Dorsey at Narbonne

Gardena at Birmingham

Banning at San Pedro

Garfield at Carson

Division I

Cleveland at Eagle Rock

Palisades at North Hollywood

Franklin at King/Drew

Westchester at Kennedy

Division II

Angelou at Arleta, 1:30 p.m.

Wilson at South Gate

Verdugo Hills at Chatsworth

Sylmar at El Camino Real

Division III

Washington at Panorama

Fremont at Los Angeles, 1:30 p.m.

Fulton at Chavez

Van Nuys at Taft

8 MAN

Semifinals

New Designs University Park at Animo Robinson

Valley Oaks CES at Sherman Oaks CES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Quarterfinals

Division 1

Sierra Canyon at Mater Dei

Corona Centennial at Mission Viejo

JSerra at Orange Lutheran

Santa Margarita at St. John Bosco

Division 2

Murrieta Valley Los Alamitos

San Juan Hills at Oaks Christian

Gardena Serra at Yorba Linda

Newbury Park at San Clemente

Division 3

La Habra at Simi Valley

Crean Lutheran at Loyola

Edison at Bonita

Vista Murrieta at Cajon

Division 4

Redondo Union at St. Bonaventure

Culver City at Apple Valley

Long Beach Poly at Oxnard Pacifica

El Modena at Thousand Oaks

Division 5

Huntington Beach vs. Summit at Miller

Rio Mesa at La Serna

Lakewood at Foothill

Mayfair at Palos Verdes

Division 6

Muir at St. Francis

Northwood at Murrieta Mesa

Glendora at Rancho Verde

Dana Hills at San Dimas

Division 7

West Torrance at Oak Park

Rio Hondo Prep at Riverside King

Golden Valley at Warren

Peninsula at Yucaipa

Division 8

Beckman at Lancaster

Serrano at Hemet

Salesian at Irvine

St. Pius X-St. Matthias at Segerstrom

Division 9

Highland vs. Burbank at Burroughs

Quartz Hill at Sonora

Long Beach Wilson vs. Village Christian at Glendale College, 7:30 p.m.

Great Oak at St. Genevieve

Division 10

St. Anthony at Shadow Hills

Garden Grove Pacifica at Brentwood

South Pasadena at Valley View

Silverado at Chino

Division 11

Portola at Santa Paula, 6 p.m.

Baldwin Park at Big Bear

San Gorgonio at Grand Terrace

Division 12

Mary Star at Dos Pueblos

Palmdale at Chaffey

Carter at Canyon Springs

Estancia vs. Hacienda Heights Wilson at Los Altos

Division 13

Gahr at Artesia

Arrowhead Christian at Anaheim

Lynwood at El Monte

San Marino at Pasadena

Division 14

Nordhoff at Duarte

San Gabriel at Costa Mesa

Century at Ganesha

Pioneer vs. Westminster La Quinta at Bolsa Grande

8 MAN

Division 1

Semifinals

California School for the Deaf vs. Cate at Carpinteria

Division 2

Quarterfinals

Cornerstone Christian at Coast Union

Santa Clara at Lancaster Baptist

Thacher at Valley Christian

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

8 MAN

Division 1

Semifinals

Flintridge Prep vs. Santa Clarita Christian at Canyon, 1 p.m.

Division 2

Quarterfinals

Avalon at Hesperia Christian, 12:30 p.m.