Changes in the Tampa Bay Rays’ Directive Before Imminent Sale
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rays presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld will leave their positions as part of the pending sale of the team to new owners. The official announcement, made on Wednesday, indicates that these changes are directly related to the sale of the franchise, which could be finalized in the next two weeks, pending final approvals. The team has announced that it will share details about the sale and the new ownership group once the transaction is complete. Stu Sternberg, the club’s owner since 2005, has been negotiating the sale of the Rays to a group led by Patrick Zalupski. Silverman and Auld have been key figures in managing the Rays’ operations, both internally and externally, in their presidential roles. Silverman is about to finish his 22nd season with the Rays and his 17th as team president. He was promoted to president in October 2005, at the age of 29, and subsequently served as president of baseball operations for three seasons, from 2015 to 2017, before returning to the position of team president. Auld, for his part, is completing his 21st season with the franchise and his 11th as team president. He will remain with the Rays as a senior advisor to ownership and the leadership team during the transition and in the future. Although Silverman will not have a formal role in the club after the sale is completed, he will represent Sternberg and his partners on an executive advisory board that will be established by the new ownership group.What makes me most proud is seeing how the Rays have become an integral part of the region’s identity, with a truly generational fan base that is taking shape. The children who used to come to the games now bring their own families, and that sense of connection will continue to grow for decades to come. Under Stu’s leadership, we have fulfilled our mission of energizing the community through the magic of Rays baseball.
Matt Silverman
