Lost in reports this week that Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski has agreed to pay $1.7 billion for the Tampa Bay Rays is an extraordinary premise. Zalupski is paying more than eight times what the previous owner paid for the club despite not knowing where the Rays will play home games.

A Jacksonville group led by billionaire Patrick Zalupski have agreed to buy the Rays for an estimated price of $1.7 billion, according to The Athletic. The deal is expected to be finalized by September after negotiations took place over the past weeks. The Rays' principal owner, Stu Sternberg, bought the franchise in 2004 for $200 million.

The Tampa Bay Rays will be sold to developer Patrick Zalupski and his group for approximately $1.7 billion, with the sale possibly finalized before the end of t