MLB expansion could be on horizon as Salt Lake City joins push for team

With officials in Salt Lake City announcing plans to pursue a MLB team, big-league expansion from 30 to 32 teams may be gaining steam.

Nashville, Portland and Las Vegas have created lobbying groups for MLB teams. Sin City could be the top destination for the A’s as they continue to face major stadium issues in Oakland. 

MLB also must figure what to do in Tampa Bay, which faces stadium issues of its own. There is hope a new stadium deal for the Rays can be reached by year’s end, according to the Tampa Bay Times. If it falls through, the Rays could also look for a new home.

Expansion has the endorsement of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who told ESPN last year he would "love" to have 32 teams.

With several major cities pushing for MLB teams, owners probably would OK expansion for the first time since 1998.

Expansion in major professional sports often becomes a cash grab for current owners who need an infusion of money through expansion fees. With MLB teams facing uncertain financial futures with regional sports networks facing bankruptcy, they could strike for immediate cash. 

In 2021, Manfred said a new expansion fee could be in the $2.2 billion range.

The on-field concern from expansion is a dilution of the talent pool. But with improvements in the high school and college games, along with renewed interest in the World Baseball Classic and baseball worldwide in general, 32 MLB teams can be stocked with quality talent.

If expansion occurs, MLB's six-division set-up -- three in the AL, three in the NL -- could change. The ideal model might be four divisions of four teams, with eight making the playoffs in each league.

Many of the expansion candidates seem to meet the basic requirements to support franchises. Nashville’s metro area has a population above two million and is the 27th-largest TV market, per Nielsen, ahead of  Baltimore (28) and Las Vegas (40). Salt Lake City’s TV market ranked 29th and its metro population is more than 2.7 million people.

If MLB expands, cities such as Charlotte (21st TV market), Indianapolis (25) and New Orleans (50) might also seek teams.