The Tampa Bay Rays went into the MLB trade deadline as buyers, but their perspective is changing due to their struggles.

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.

M ajor League Baseball's trade deadline is scheduled for next Thursday, which means teams have less than a week to get their midsummer shopping done. The moves have already started, as the Mariners recently acquired Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks while the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon in a trade with the Rockies .

With the trade deadline just days away, the Red Sox have been urged to swing a trade with the Rays for Yandy Diaz.

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St. Pete officials voted Thursday to officially terminate the redevelopment plans as talks of potentially moving the Rays to Tampa for good loom.

When MLB.com asked 90 big-league players who the fastest player in baseball is, 40 voted for Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. received 17 votes, and so did Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

MLB Draft picks are getting deals settled across the league and the Tampa Bay Rays have made one of the biggest splashes. On Tuesday, they came to terms with high school outfielder Dean Moss, a player they took with the 67th overall pick in the supplemental second-round.