Major League Baseball’s best team in 2023 is being pursued by potential new owners — even though its current owner says the club is not for sale.

The Athletic reports the Tampa Bay Rays are drawing unsolicited interest from Dan Doyle Jr., chief executive of Tampa-based DEX Imaging, as well as other prospective ownership groups looking to relocate the franchise. 

As they have for nearly 20 years, the Rays seek a new facility to replace the outdated Tropicana Field. The club remains in negotiations with St. Petersburg on developing a new ballpark that could cost $1.2 billion, with Orlando recently posited as another option. 

The latest interest in the Rays feeds in on increasing discussion within MLB about possible expansion, but team owner Stu Sternberg told the Tampa Bay Times there’s no movement to surrender control.

“I expect we will build a ballpark in Tampa Bay that will keep the Rays here for generations to come,” Sternberg said. “I also plan on remaining the Rays owner.”

While Sternberg denied interest in selling a majority interest in the club, it remains possible he could opt to bring in additional minority partners like Doyle to help fund a new facility. 

The Rays’ current Tropicana Field lease expires after the 2027 season, in turn raising the urgency around the club’s ballpark situation. The Rays’ status, however, contrasts significantly from that of the Oakland A’s, who have been given league permission to pursue relocation.

One former NHL market is hoping to capitalize on the increasingly murky future of the Arizona Coyotes.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is trying to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman this week about the potential of relocating the troubled franchise to Hartford, which was home to the Whalers from 1972-1997 before the team moved to Raleigh and became the Carolina Hurricanes.

“This is a great hockey state and a great hockey town,” Lamont said. “It’s evidenced by the passion we have for the Whalers going back years, still one of the best-selling jerseys. I think we can guarantee them a very strong market right here, and a government that’s ready to come and be their partner.”

Tempe voters last week rejected a proposal for a privately financed $2.1 billion arena project that would have kept the Coyotes in Arizona long-term.

The biggest arena in Hartford is the XL Center, which has a capacity of 14,750 for hockey. The NHL would likely want a deal in place for a new arena before greenlighting a Hartford franchise.

Lamont’s desired meeting with Bettman, for which he’s already contacted the NHL, would mark a major step in Connecticut’s hope for a return to the top tier of pro hockey.

Disgruntled Manchester United fans hoping for a conclusion to the club’s ongoing sale saga may have to wait a little bit longer for more concrete news.

ESPN reported that the Glazer family is considering delaying a decision on whether to sell the club until the end of the season. The news is just the latest twist in the convoluted process by which the storied English soccer club is potentially changing hands. 

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was once seen as a near-lock to take over with an offer of more than $6 billion, but Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani continues to hang around in the bidding process.

The Glazers initially asked for $7 billion, but even $6 billion would make the sale the largest in history for a sports franchise.

Aside from a high price tag, it’s unclear exactly what the Glazers want from a sale. Ratcliffe appeared to be open to letting the family retain a minority ownership stake, while Sheikh Jassim offered to buy 100% of the club.

Currently fourth in the Premier League, Manchester United will play its final league game on Sunday and the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3. That means it could be several weeks until a preferred bidder is chosen — if the Glazers even follow through with their intentions to sell the club.

For now, Manchester United will focus on finishing the season as high as third or as low as fifth. If it’s the latter, the Red Devils would be out of automatic Champions League qualification, potentially costing the club millions.