The Tampa Bay Rays have added a senior executive with a background in real estate and team operations, signaling continued reinforcement of the club's front office under its new ownership group.
Drew Frick, who left the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars in April, updated his LinkedIn profile in July to show he is senior vice president and general counsel of the Rays. The change comes three months after Frick parted ways with the Jaguars.
What this means for Tampa residents and the Rays
Frick's arrival could affect how the Rays approach stadium issues, development projects and legal matters tied to team operations. His résumé includes executive responsibility for real estate and development, an area that often intersects with municipal planning, public financing and neighborhood impacts in the Tampa Bay region.
- Frick served as senior vice president of real estate and development for the Jacksonville Jaguars before leaving the team in April.
- His LinkedIn indicates he began with the Rays in July 2026 as senior vice president and general counsel.
- The Rays' ownership was restructured in September 2025 when the sale to Jacksonville businessman Patrick Zalupski closed after approval by MLB owners.
Background and timeline
Frick joined the Jaguars in 2022. Before that, he was president of GATE Lands, the real estate development arm of Jacksonville-based GATE Petroleum. The Jaguars announced on April 16 that Frick was no longer with the team; the team did not provide a reason for his departure.
"serving as senior vice president and general counsel of the Rays as of July 2026."
The Rays' ownership group now includes Patrick Zalupski, who founded Dream Finders Homes and led it to a Fortune 1000 company with $4.4 billion in revenue in 2024; Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage; and Ken Babby, founder and CEO of Fast Forward Sports Group. The sale to Zalupski closed in September 2025 following Major League Baseball owners' approval.
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Frick joins Jacksonville Jaguars |
| April 16, 2026 | Jaguars announce Frick is no longer with the team |
| September 2025 | Sale of the Rays to Patrick Zalupski closes after MLB approval |
| July 2026 | Frick updates LinkedIn showing role with Tampa Bay Rays |
Frick's combination of legal and real estate experience aligns with responsibilities often handled by a general counsel at a major-league club, including contract negotiations, regulatory compliance and oversight of property-related initiatives. For Tampa residents, this hire could be most visible if it leads to new development proposals around team facilities or influences discussions with local governments about stadium or training-site projects.
The Rays organization and Frick have not released additional public statements beyond the LinkedIn update and previous Jaguars notices. News Block will monitor any formal announcements from the Rays, the ownership group or local officials about Frick's role and any initiatives he may lead in the Tampa Bay region.
