Full Breakdown
MLB Expansion Bids Heat Up as Salt Lake City Leads West Coast Contention
9/9/2026, 1:07:04 AM
Core Event: Two New Franchises Targeted Before Commissioner’s 2029 Retirement
Major League Baseball plans to add two expansion teams—one West, one East—before Commissioner Rob Manfred retires in January 2029. An expansion committee should be in place by September 2028 to evaluate city bids and forward recommendations to the league’s owners.
Background & Context: First Expansion Since 1998
The last expansion round produced the Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998. Recent approvals of a new ballpark for the Rays and the Athletics’ planned move to Las Vegas have cleared a major hurdle, allowing MLB to refocus on adding new clubs.
Candidate Cities and Their Profiles
- Salt Lake City, Utah – Described as having “the most advanced potential bid,” with a solid ownership group, secured stadium funding, and an identified site, making it the leading West-coast contender.
- Nashville, Tennessee – Viewed as the Eastern favorite; it has a Triple-A team and a “Music City Baseball” brand but lacks an identified owner, public financing, and a stadium site.
- Raleigh, North Carolina – Possible Eastern contender; ownership interest is linked to Tom Dundon, though a stadium plan remains unsettled.
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Former home of the Expos; a shareholder group is being assembled, and the city’s demographics and baseball history are cited as “impossible to ignore.”
- Portland, Oregon – Has a state-funded stadium plan and a designated site but no identified owner; its market size is slightly larger than Salt Lake City’s.
- Orlando, Florida – Listed among the candidates; specific ownership or financing details were not provided.
Data & Statistics: Six Cities, Two Slots, Defined Timeline
- Candidate cities: six.
- Expansion slots: two (one West, one East).
- Key dates: committee formation by September 2028; final selections expected before Manfred’s retirement in January 2029.
Official Statements & Responses
Passan notes Nashville’s “well-constructed Nashville Stars brand” but stresses the need for an owner, financing, and a stadium location. He also indicates that no expansion will occur until a new collective-bargaining agreement is reached, anticipated during the upcoming offseason.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree Salt Lake City leads the West-coast race, but there is no consensus on the Eastern frontrunner. While Nashville is frequently mentioned, its missing ownership and financing leave the slot open to Raleigh, Montreal, or others. No finalized list of owners or confirmed public-funding commitments exists for any city.
What’s Next: Committee Formation and Decision Timeline
The MLB expansion committee will convene by September 2028 to assess each bid and prepare recommendations for the owners. The league aims to announce the two new franchises before Manfred’s retirement in January 2029, contingent on securing owners, stadium sites, and a new collective-bargaining agreement.
