Report: Rays traded pricey talent after failed sale bid

(Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports)

The Tampa Bay Rays' decision to offload some of their top talent before Tuesday's trade deadline partially stemmed from a deal to buy the team that never came to be, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg was looking to sell the team to a group of local investors for $1.6 billion, according to the report. Sternberg bought the Rays for $200 mi