The MLB has not expanded its league since 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the 28 other teams. We now sit in 2025 with the same 30 competing year in and year out. That period is the longest stretch without expansion since the MLB jumped to 18 teams in 1961.
It would seem plausible that expansion is around the corner, and this has attracted considerable discussion in recent years. Commissioner Rob Manfred has discussed the subject briefly, providing a few leads on where the new potential markets could be.
Let’s figure out where those new teams could play when the MLB inevitably expands again.
Nashville, Tennessee
Music City Baseball, a group located in Nashville, is making arguably the strongest pitch to Major League Baseball for an expansion team. The likely team name would be the “Stars,” titled after the Negro League team that played in the area from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.
The ownership group partnered with Lincoln Property Co. to evaluate two downtown area sites for the stadium. Nashville is a budding market in a region that needs a team for fans to root for. It’s a storied city that has a deep history and tradition, which would be perfect for a professional baseball team.
Portland, Oregon
Portland has arguably the most aggressive ownership group behind Music City Baseball. The Portland Diamond Project has a very detailed plan should the MLB come to them for an expansion team. They address the clear need for more northwestern teams in the United States, giving the Seattle Mariners a needed local rival.
The desired area for the stadium is absolutely stunning, sitting on Zidell Yards as a waterfront ballpark. It’s likely that the MLB will add a team on each side of the country, and Portland is my favorite for the western area.
Orlando, Florida
I’m not so sure that another team coming to Florida is extremely likely, but if the Rays end up moving elsewhere, it is a possibility. Pat Williams, who brought Orlando an NBA team, is the head of the effort for the city in attaining an MLB franchise. The “Dreamers” is the intended name of Williams’ team, “a nod to Walt Disney and Arnold Palmer and the many other visionaries who helped develop this area into the special place it has become,” according to Williams.
Williams passed away in July of 2024, but I would imagine that others will continue his push for a franchise. The likelihood of an MLB team coming to Orlando will depend on how big that push from new ownership will be.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Charlotte was an extremely popular choice for a North Carolina team, but Raleigh has been growing as a market faster than its counterpart. N.C. State University held a study among possible expansion cities to determine the likelihood of each, and Raleigh came out as one of the fastest growing options. It holds the 22nd largest media market in the country, which came out as the fourth-highest of the cities studied.
Raleigh is pretty similar to Charlotte, but they have a perceived ownership in place, as well as potential sites for a stadium that have been discussed. This gives a slight edge over Charlotte and is a possible destination for an expansion team.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Another possible solution for a team coming out west is Salt Lake City. This is another growing market with a need for a professional team. Big League Utah is the group in charge of bringing baseball to the area.
Utah is one of the best available markets for the sport with great opportunities for growth, but nothing stands out. It’s still a great option, but it doesn’t have much more to offer compared to the others that they are competing against.
When Could MLB Expand?
Commissioner Manfred has been clear that no expansion will occur until the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays resolve their stadium situations. The A’s appear locked into a move to Las Vegas, but the Rays’ future is far less certain.
Tampa Bay nearly reached a stadium deal in Ybor City before that effort collapsed. More recently, Hurricane Milton damaged the roof at Tropicana Field, forcing the team to play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training complex, which is not a permanent solution.
The franchise’s sale to Patrick Zalupski in September has further complicated matters. Until the Rays secure a stable home, expansion will remain on hold.
Manfred has indicated he wants the two new franchises decided before his retirement in 2029. While it is unlikely that a decision will come years in advance, the groundwork for expansion should take shape by then.
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