With the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays nearing the end of their ongoing stadium disputes, Major League Baseball (MLB) may soon turn its attention to expansion in the coming years. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed his hope to finalize agreements for the next couple of major league cities before his term concludes in January 2029.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, while there are currently no concrete plans for expansion, many high-ranking officials within the league believe that it is inevitable for MLB to expand to 32 teams. However, Passan suggests that this expansion is unlikely to occur before the early 2030s, which aligns with Manfred’s goal of initiating the process before leaving office in five years. There are various logistical challenges, such as expansion fees and stadium construction, that need to be addressed before narrowing down the potential cities and introducing two new MLB teams.
Although the league could begin the expansion process earlier, it is not currently a top priority. The Athletics are still determining their playing location for the years 2025-2027. Manfred also emphasized the importance of improving local media relations before making significant changes. This refers to the uncertain broadcasting revenues faced by several teams due to the rise of cord-cutting, which has threatened the viability of regional sports networks.
Before the expansion process gains momentum, there will be another round of collective bargaining negotiations. The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to expire in December 2026, with the previous round resulting in a 99-day lockout and labor issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming negotiations have the potential to be similarly contentious.
Once expansion becomes a more immediate concern, several cities are expected to vie for teams. Passan reports that the initial plan is to select one team from the East and one from the West. Nashville and Salt Lake City have emerged as the early frontrunners. Nashville’s Music City Baseball initiative, established in 2019, aims to bring a franchise to the city and has garnered support from notable figures such as Don Mattingly, Tony La Russa, Bruce Bochy, Dave Stewart, and Dave Dombrowski. Salt Lake City’s expansion efforts began in earnest last April with Big League Utah, led by former Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller, spearheading the push. Salt Lake City is also one of three cities, alongside Oakland and Sacramento, in contention to host the Athletics temporarily before their planned relocation to Las Vegas in 2028. Hosting the Athletics on a temporary basis could potentially enhance Salt Lake City’s chances of securing a franchise of their own in the future.
However, it is important to note that these plans are subject to change in the upcoming seasons. Nothing is set in stone at this point, and the expansion process has yet to commence. Nonetheless, MLB’s static period since 1998, when the league last expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, may soon come to an end. Passan’s column provides further details on other cities that have been suggested as potential expansion locations and explores the challenges that these groups may encounter in their pursuit of a new franchise.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com