"Expansion, those sources said, is not imminent - and in fact is unlikely to happen until the early 2030s. Creating a franchise out of nothing takes time, and expansion isn't MLB's immediate priority, either - not amid the fallout from the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, the company that owned local television rights to 14 teams, the unsettled status of the Rays' attempt to build a new stadium and the Oakland A's attempt to abscond to Las Vegas. Not to mention the new collective bargaining agreement to be negotiated after the current one expires in 2026, too."
""It hasn't been much of a topic of conversation," one owner, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told ESPN. "Everybody knows what's going to happen eventually, but it's so far off that people just haven't focused on it.""
Major League Baseball is considering adding two expansion teams and likely realignment, with Commissioner Rob Manfred signaling interest. Expansion is expected eventually but is not imminent and likely delayed until the early 2030s. Immediate league priorities include fallout from the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy, the Rays' unsettled stadium situation, the Oakland A's attempted move to Las Vegas, and negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement after 2026. Creating new franchises requires substantial time and resources. Owners broadly accept expansion as inevitable but are deferring focus until financial, legal, and labor issues are addressed. The last expansion took place in 1998.
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