After 17 years of negotiations that led to historic votes this summer to build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium in St. Petersburg, the future of Major League Baseball may hang in the balance once again. Before Pinellas County commissioners on Tuesday is a simple question: Whether to approve previously pledged financing for a share of the costs for a new $1.

The St. Petersburg City Council was on board and residents seemed to be too, given their overwhelming re-election of Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders, a key Welch ally and avowed Rays deal supporter. The Pinellas County Commission gave its thumbs up too, with a vote on a bond resolution a mere formality to take place in late October.