Tampa businessman Joe Molloy is leading a Tampa-based group seeking to buy the Rays and pursue the planned St. Petersburg stadium deal. Molloy confirmed his group’s interest to the Tampa Bay Times on Sunday night.

Joe Molloy, a former Yankees executive, tells the Tampa Bay Times he is leading one of the efforts to buy the team while The Athletic reports Eddie DeBartolo Jr. is part of the group.

There are multiple interested buyers for the Tampa Bay Rays as principal owner Stu Sternberg faces a stadium-related deadline at the end of the month.

One day after a Tampa businessperson confirmed he is part of a team vying to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays, a local lawyer said he represents another group of potential suitors. Tampa attorney Carter McCain said he represents a group with local minority ownership interest led by someone who is well-respected within baseball circles and in the office of the Major League Baseball commissioner.

Tampa businessman Joe Molly is leading a group interested in buying the team and pursuing the St. Petersburg stadium deal that remains in the table.

Rumors have been swirling about a prospective buyer for the Rays for years, and particularly in the last two weeks. The Rays are approaching a March 31 deadline to continue or terminate the new stadium deal in St.