Kalas departs after 19 seasons with Rays

Todd Kalas is leaving the Rays' broadcast booth after being with the team since 1998. (Getty)ST. PETERSBURG -- Todd Kalas is leaving the Rays' broadcast team to become the Astros' new play-by-play announcer on ROOT Sports Southwest.

"I'm definitely going to miss the Tampa Bay area," Kalas said. "I never imagined myself leaving, but this was a unique opportunity, and it gives me the chance to do play-by-play."

Kalas, 50, has been a part of the Rays' telecast team on Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports since the team's first season, in 1998, so he moves to Houston with many memories.

"There was Wade Boggs' 3,000th hit, and probably the most memorable thing was the turnaround I got to witness when…