Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg has been frustrated in his efforts to get out of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and move to a new stadium in Tampa.

There are lingering doubts that the Tampa area won't be able to properly support the franchise no matter where they play.

Sternberg has had discussions with wealthy Wall Street associates about moving the Rays to Montreal, according to sources.

"Say what you will about Montreal, but the Expos drew well over two million fans four times there in their heyday, while the Rays did that only once, their first year," a Major League official said.