By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

You could see a number of Major League Baseball games played in Montreal during the regular season sooner than you think.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported Thursday that the Tampa Bay Rays have received permission from MLB's executive council to explore the possibility of playing games in both Tampa Bay and Montreal. The scenario being suggested is that games in the first half of the season would be played in Florida, the other half in Montreal, or something along those lines.

There was no indication when this scenario would begin.

The Rays have long been rumored to be relocated to Montreal and this concept bandied about by the Rays gives Montreal much hope for a team of its own.

"While the plan is in its nascent stages, the Rays have embraced the two-city solution as the most feasible to saving baseball in the Tampa Bay area after years of failed attempts to build a new stadium in the region, according to sources,'' Passan wrote. "Under the plan, the Rays would play in new stadiums in both the Tampa Bay area and Montreal, according to sources. The ability to play games early in the season in Florida would preclude the need for a domed stadium (in Tampa), cutting the cost of a new building.''

Passan said the executive council approved the plan during meetings held Wednesday and Thursday.

If you look at this scenario, it certainly is a very novel idea, although the Expos did play some home games in Puerto Rico in the 2000s.