ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay senior adviser Don Zimmer wants to return next year for his 59th season in baseball and the Devil Rays say they're interested.
"The answer is yes," Tampa Bay principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Wednesday night before the Devil Rays played Texas.
"If I'm here, he's got a home."
Zimmer is completing his third season with Tampa Bay. He and his wife have lived about seven miles away from Tropicana Field in Treasure Island, Fla., for almost 50 years.
The 75-year-old Zimmer said he would not take a baseball job anywhere else.
"I'm going to finish up at home," he said. "Whether it's this
year, next year, the year after."
Detroit manager Jim Leyland contacted Zimmer during the past offseason about possibly joining his staff.
"I could have went to Detroit," Zimmer said. "I said 'Jimmy, I love you, but I don't love you that much. I'm staying home.' The Devil Rays have been good to me."