Apparently the Cincinnati Reds' departure from Sarasota doesn't mean that city has seen the last of spring training baseball. The Tampa Tribune reports that a high-ranking Sox official has been in contact with Sarasota's city manager about possibly relocating from Ft. Myers to a new ballpark/complex in Sarasota that would replace Ed Smith Stadium.

During a recent tour of Sarasota, Bartolotta said a Red Sox executive was impressed with the potential for the 50-acre Ed Smith site, Sarasota's amenities, hotels and its downtown.

The Red Sox have a long-term contract in Fort Myers that does not expire until 2019, but the team has the option to buyout of the lease starting in 2011, Bartolotta said.

Reichard said he thought one possibility, if the Red Sox do move to Sarasota, is a development of condos or shops right next to the stadium. "Over the last four years, they bought up a bunch of buildings around Fenway Park and rehabbed them," Reichard said. "They can do a big shebang here."

Definitely sounds good for Sarasota, although I feel like throwing up a little at the prospect of having both the Yankees and the Red Sox train closer to St. Pete than the Rays do. Should be interesting to see how this unfolds. The Ft. Myers facility is only 15 years old or so, so you'd think that with some modest upgrades that it would have no problem attracting another team. Hopefully that "other team" comes from Arizona and not Florida. We need to stem the exodus and reclaim some teams.