TAMPA — The massive makeover the Rays did to turn Steinbrenner Field into their 2025 home includes signs, posters, placards, stickers, videoboard programming and more, designed primarily to replace Yankees branding with their own.
But what may be the most striking image of their relocation hangs on a wall just inside the visiting clubhouse — a photograph of the tattered Tropicana Field roof in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
The 4-by-6-foot image, taken by team photographer Will Vragovic, serves as a jarring reminder of why the Rays are playing this season at the Yankees spring training stadium.
Rays players and staff, some of whom were impacted by hurricane damage themselves, obviously are familiar with the devastation the storm brought.
But visiting clubhouse manager Brandon “Tank” Richesin had the idea to remind and educate members of other teams about why they are playing at the stadium.
Why the clubhouse is not as spacious, the furnishings not as nice, the dining area not as convenient, the facilities not as upgraded as they’re used to elsewhere.
“Tank knows things will be different, less than ideal,” Rays chief business officer Bill Walsh said. “This is his appeal to visiting players and staff to remember what happened and how we got here.”
Doing so may preempt, or at least tone down, complaints visiting players might have, or at least discourage them from being shared publicly. Initial word Friday was that the Rockies were understanding and OK with the setup.
(It may be different when the Yankees visit Tampa April 17-20 and find themselves on the visitors side as the Rays enjoy their massive, state-of-the-art, better-than-the-Trop home clubhouse facilities.)
But as with many other aspects of the difficult situation the Rays were thrust into after being displaced, they are trying to do the best they can.
“If things are challenging this year, maybe things look a little different, things are a little more difficult on that side, it’s a little reminder of where we’re coming from and why we’re in the situation we’re in,” said Warren Hypes, vice president of creative and brand.
“And we want to have a little piece of our old home in our home away from home.”
The Rays also are leaning into the narrative in other ways.
There is a brief shot of the Trop damage in their hype video, plus a dramatic edit on the announcement of playing at Steinbrenner Field.
The cover of their media guide is a collage of photos reflecting their offseason, including the damaged Trop, players/staff at hurricane-relief events, the relocated Fan Fest at the St. Pete Pier and Rays-branded Steinbrenner Field.
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There is discussion about adding a damaged Trop photo to the home clubhouse as well.
The $76 million men
The Rays opened the season Friday with a major-league payroll of $76,258,067 — down 21% from last year’s franchise record $96,568,667 but in line with their previous high of $78,245,400 in 2022.
Our calculation is simple math, the salaries of the players on the active roster (26) and injured list (five). Signing bonuses, incentives and option buyouts are not included (nor is the $8 million they were to pay Wander Franco, who is on the restricted list). Some players have split contracts and get less when in the minors. Players on IL are marked with x-.
x-Ha-Seong Kim $13,000,000
Brandon Lowe 10,500,000
Yandy Diaz 10,000,000
Danny Jansen 8,000,000
Zack Littell 5,720,000
Pete Fairbanks 3,666,667
x-Shane McClanahan 3,600,000
Drew Rasmussen 2,000,000
Shane Baz 1,450,000
Taylor Walls 1,350,000
Garrett Cleavinger 1,200,000
Ben Rortvedt 1,125,000
Edwin Uceta 815,000
Jose Caballero 776,800
Kevin Kelly 776,000
x-Richie Palacios 775,700
Ryan Pepiot 774,600
Taj Bradley 774,200
Christopher Morel 771,800
Josh Lowe 771,500
Jonny DeLuca 770,100
x-Alex Faedo 769,900
Manuel Rodriguez 769,400
Jonathan Aranda 766,500
Junior Caminero 764,100
Mason Englert 763,400
Hunter Bigge 762,700
Curtis Mead 762,200
Mason Montgomery 761,800
Kameron Misner 760,700
x-Nathan Lavender 760,000
Boss talk
Anecdotes abounded through the years of how much legendary former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner disliked the Rays and always wanted to beat them. Jon Heyman revisited that theme in a New York Post article, quoting an unnamed former Yankee suggesting the old Boss would be “rolling over in his grave” about the stadium-sharing agreement.
But current Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner set that straight, telling Heyman his dad loved being a longtime member of the Tampa Bay community and “I have no doubt that, if asked, he would have helped.”
Related, Lindsey Naimoli, daughter of original Rays owner Vince Naimoli, made an interesting point in an email, suggesting the current arrangement is the product of the relationship her father had with George Steinbrenner.
“Let’s thank the real people behind this deal that have passed away. Sincerely missed. If it was not for their extraordinary relationship that truly brought MLB to Tampa, when Mr. Steinbrenner was such a mentor to my father, well that is what fundamentally forged the ability to give the Rays a place in this unorthodox season.”
Rays rumblings
When Kevin Cash moved into the home manager’s office, he found a note in a desk drawer from Yankees counterpart Aaron Boone telling him to keep the place warm: “Boonie’s great. He just said, ‘Enjoy it, good health, and you’re getting to be in an amazing facility,’ which we are. Very appreciative. I’ve had other things left by managers (such as good buddy Terry Francona); this one was pretty classy.” … The Rays pregame introductions Friday ran about 80 people long, including the bat boys and three team chefs. Pitcher Taj Bradley stood out by standing with his back to the fans, then turning around and waving and smiling. … Though the Yankees had listed a Steinbrenner Field capacity of 11,026, the Rays — after reconfiguring some of the standing-room and social-seating areas — came up with 10,046 as the full-house number. … That, baseball historian Rick Vaughn said, apparently makes it the smallest big-league stadium for a full season since 1911, when the Boston National League team — with an aging pitcher named Cy Young — played at the 9,800-seat South End Grounds. … Playing off the intimacy of the single-deck stadium, Walsh put an interesting spin on the Steinbrenner Field seating options: “The 10,000 seats at Steinbrenner Field are as good as the best 10,000 seats at any other major-league park.” … Josh Lowe, who left Friday’s game with an oblique injury that landed him on the injured list, on the dramatic ending: “I wanted to scream, but it hurts to scream.” … An MLB contingent led by deputy commissioner Dan Halem attended Friday’s opener. … Another good line from Walsh in opening Wednesday’s stadium media event: “I’d like to start with a sentence I never thought I would say – Welcome to George M, Steinbrenner Field, home of the 2025 Tampa Bay Rays.” … Rockies manager Bud Black is a baseball lifer, but this weekend was his first visit to Steinbrenner Field, which opened in 1996.
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