Tampa Bay Rays attract more potential buyers

Catch up quick: The Rays confirmed in a statement last week that the team is in discussions with a group led by Patrick Zalupski — a Jacksonville home builder — to sell.

• The group also includes unnamed "prominent Tampa Bay investors," as well as Ken Babby, who owns the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball team.
• The potential deal values the team at $1.7 billion, per Sportico.

The latest: Memphis hedge fund founder Trip Miller is leading a group that made an all-cash offer to current Rays owner Stu Sternberg, The Athletic reported.

• Miller didn't name the other members of his group but made clear they're willing to raise their offer if needed. He also told the Athletic he'd like to keep the team in Tampa Bay but won't rule out Orlando.
• The Orlando Dreamers aren't deterred, either, and remain optimistic on bringing Major League Baseball to Orange County should Zalupski's group close the deal, per the Orlando Sentinel.

What they're saying: "This is not a relocation play to another state," Miller told the Athletic. "You won't see the Rays relocating out of Central Florida."

• "The league, that's what they're looking for. Someone who can not only buy the club, but solves the stadium problem."