The Tampa Bay Rays could have new owners in a matter of months — and it looks like they're likely to stay near Tampa Bay. The Athletic reported on Monday that Stu Sternberg could sell the team as early as September, having reached a deal in principle for $1.7 billion with Jacksonville home developer Patrick Zalupski. According to the report, Zalupski is expected to keep the Rays local with a preference to build a new stadium in Tampa rather than the team's former home in St. Petersburg. Mayor Castor: 'It looks like the Rays are going to stay in Tampa Bay' Tampa Mayor Jane Castor weighed in on the news Monday during a community meeting in South Tampa. "I haven't gotten official word, but from all indications, it looks like the Rays are going to stay in Tampa Bay, which has all along been our goal," she said. "Indications are that more than likely it will be in Tampa, but nothing's been sealed as of yet." "I think the sale still has to go through, and then we'll see where the new owners will decide to make a permanent home for the Tampa Bay Rays," the mayor continued. The Rays' potential buyers Back in June, officials for the Rays confirmed they were in talks with a group led by Patrick Zalupski, the CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes, concerning a possible sale of the team. Also in the group are Bill Cosgrove, Ken Babby and "prominent" Tampa Bay investors, according to the Rays. Babby is the owner of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, a Triple-A Minor League Baseball team in Downtown Jacksonville. The potential sale comes at a precarious time for the Rays and their home ballpark. This season, the Rays are playing at the George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa after the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg was ripped off by winds during Hurricane Milton. Earlier this year, the team announced it would not be moving forward with an on-the-table deal for a new $1.3 billion stadium and surrounding redevelopment plan in St. Petersburg.