Twins' Odorizzi: People won't sign up for Tampa-Montreal split

Minnesota Twins All-Star Jake Odorizzi isn't a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays' proposal to split home games between Florida and Montreal.

"From a player standpoint I think it's nothing but a bad idea," Odorizzi said, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "The reason I say that is it would be like you got traded at the deadline every single year. Moving your family halfway through the year isn't very enjoyable, let alone doing it year in and year out.

"Factor in on top of that it's also Canada. It's a different country. There's a whole lot of different aspects. ... It's something I don't think a lot of people would voluntarily sign up for."

The right-hander spent five seasons with the Rays and lives in Tampa Bay during the offseason. For Odorizzi, the solution to the club's attendance issues is as complicated as it is simple.

"I think (a new stadium in) Tampa is the solution," He said. "How it gets done after all this is very hard to say. ... I feel like there's a solution to be had, but there's just a lot of business posturing about it. ... It's frustrating from a lot of people's standpoint - fans, players, everybody.

"The team down there is good - it deserves more notoriety, more coverage, and more people to see it. To say if it's going to work (going forward in the Tampa Bay market), who knows? That's probably the best you can describe it."

The Major League Baseball Players Association revealed in late June that the Rays would have to get approval from the union before moving forward with the plan.