What happened: Major League Baseball's next expansion cycle is back in view as candidate markets draw renewed attention. Portland and Salt Lake City are among the cities circulating around the conversation.

Why it matters: The eventual choice would shape where MLB plants its next franchises and which markets stay on the outside. It also raises the stakes for cities trying to separate themselves before any formal expansion move.

What to watch: The next meaningful development will be a clearer league timetable or a narrower group of preferred markets. Until then, the race remains a contest of positioning rather than an award decision.