Rays owner says he won't make bid on Mets

2:03 PM, February 16, 2011 ι By KEVIN KERNAN

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- There’s been speculation that the Rays ownership group, led by Stuart Sternberg, would jump in to try to buy the Mets.

No chance, Sternberg said Wednesday.

“I have no intention of purchasing or looking at purchasing the Mets,’’ Sternberg said here on the first day of Rays camp. “It’s the Wilpons’ team and I can’t envision it. The Wilpons have been great to me. They’ve been welcoming. They’ve been nothing but kind and help advance what we are trying to do. They are big fans of ours.’’

Over at Mets camp, Jeff Wilpon said his family is not selling controlling interest of the team that is engulfed in the Madoff mess.

Sternberg, a Brooklyn native, is a Mets season ticket holder.

“I’m a season ticket holder of the Rays, too,’’ Sternberg said with a smile.

Sternberg originally looked at a minority ownership of the Mets and that sparked his interest to purchase the Rays.

“It’s turned out to be a rewarding experience as far as what we’ve been able to accomplish here,’’ Sternberg said.

It sure has.

The Rays have won two of the past three AL East championships. In 2008, they made it to the World Series, where they lost to the Phillies.

The Rays are trying to find a way to win this year by signing veteran AL East free agents Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. Bringing in a couple "Idiots" couldn’t hurt. As for going up against the big boys, the Yankees and Red Sox, it’s all about making the right deals.

“We’re not counting ourselves out,’’ Sternberg said. “We have our guys in position to succeed. We shop in a different store. We don’t shop in a store where they give you fancy shopping bags as you walk out the store.’’

The bottom line is that Sternberg’s Rays have come up winners. And he said he is here for the long haul.