Six cities line up for MLB's two-team expansion

Manfred wants both markets chosen before January 2029.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

What happened: Salt Lake City, Nashville, Raleigh, Portland, Orlando and Montreal are expected to receive the heaviest consideration. Ballpark plans for the Rays and the A's move to Las Vegas have cleared two long-running stadium obstacles.

Why it matters: A 32-club league would require MLB to settle realignment and scheduling before play begins. The choice could hinge on ownership, stadium and financing readiness in each market.

By the numbers: MLB has 30 clubs and last expanded in 1998. Hillsborough County approved $796 million in public funding for the Rays' proposed ballpark in late August.

What to watch: The next checkpoint is a new collective bargaining agreement, followed by MLB's formal application process.

Sources

espn.com 2026-09-08T18:38:31.834323+00:00

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