Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, a ‘Tampa guy,' endorses Rays' stadium move

BOSTON - Hall of Famer Wade Boggs was representing Tampa Bay baseball well before the Rays were around.

The Plant High product appreciated the opportunity to finish a career that started with the Red Sox in 1982 by coming home to play for the expansion Devil Rays in 1998-99.

And he highlighted the homecoming with one of his most memorable moments, rapping his 3,000th hit at Tropicana Field on Aug 7, 1999.

Friday, Boggs, 67, said he is in favor of the Rays' plans to move to a new stadium in Tampa, where he has lived for more than 50 years.

"I love it," Boggs said at Fenway Park. "I'm a Tampa guy. I've always been an advocate of having baseball in Tampa, and I'll be behind any movement that they have to get it to Tampa.

"Not that I'm against St Petersburg. I love St Petersburg. It's a wonderful city and they have wonderful beaches and everything. But I think that the dynamics of baseball need to be in Tampa."

The Rays are in negotiations with Tampa and Hillsborough County officials to build a $2.3 billion domed ballpark on the Hillsborough College across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium, hoping to get a deal done by or shortly after June 1.

Though Boggs said he'd prefer a retractable roof facility like in Houston, he said having the team play in Tampa would increase interest and excitement, similar to how the Lightning became more popular under Jeff Vinik's leadership.

"I think that would just light Tampa up," Boggs said. "Vinik, with the Lightning, rearranged how hockey fans treat (the team). I think that with a new (Rays) stadium, it would just energize Tampa so much. It really would."

Boggs was at Fenway throwing out a first pitch with other Sox Hall of Famers to mark the quasquicentennial (125th) anniversary of the franchise's first home game. He is also a member of the Rays' Hall of Fame, which was launched in 2023.

Noting that Evan Longoria is set to join him in July in the Rays' Hall, Boggs said he has enjoyed seeing their latest star third baseman, Junior Caminero.

"He's a dude," Boggs said. "He's following in the lines of me and Evan. If he keeps this up, he'll have his (retired) number up there, too."

Boggs also offered some advice for the new Rays owners: sign the 22-year-old Caminero to a long-term deal. "You've got to keep him. You've got to sign him. Lock him up."

Boggs, who announced in September 2024 that he was being treated for prostate cancer, said Friday he won that battle.

"I'm a cancer survivor now," he said. "Prostate cancer is null and void, thank God."

Saturday game in question

Rain is forecast for most of Saturday, which could either make for a long day at Fenway Park if there is an attempt to play through and around it, or a short day if the game is postponed. While a Sunday doubleheader is possible, a more likely option could be to make it up when the Rays return to Boston in July to re-open play after the All-Star break.

Miscellany

Class-A Charleston (S.C.) right-hander Aidan Cremarosa threw a nine-inning no-hitter Friday against Augusta, allowing one walk and striking out 11 while throwing 101 pitches. Cremarosa, 22, was a 2025 eighth-round pick from Fresno State. ... Friday's loss was the Rays' first in more than a week, since April 29 in Cleveland. It also was their first to an American League East team (having won seven against the Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox) and snapped their nine-game winning streak against lefty starters. ... The Rays extended their streak of allowing three or fewer earned runs to a franchise-record 15 games.

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 8:59 PM.