MLB Expansion Odds: Nashville, SLC Emerge as Favorites, Raleigh Gains

By Adam Thompson Aug 20th, 2025 12:49 PM EDT

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Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and other stakeholders in the game believe the league can, and should, expand from 30 teams to 32 teams. It's been 25 years since the Arizona Diamondbacks entered the league in the last round of MLB expansion. 

That idea was strengthened recently, as Manfred straight-up told media that 32 teams would improve league geographical realignment and help with travel.

With a chance of landing an MLB franchise, cities all over the country (and beyond) are interested in being part of the next MLB expansion. 

Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson has updated his hypothetical MLB odds on which cities have the edge in this race to open up MLB’s next frontier: 

Which Cities Are Most Likely To Get MLB Expansion Teams?

Odds are hypothetical and created by our Bookies.com handicapper. The odds take into account the fact that two cities are set to get new MLB teams. They do not reflect odds that may be available on legal betting apps.

New MLB stadiums have been boons to cities around the country. Some teams, such as the Atlanta Braves, have created their own bustling communities around new stadiums. Metro areas – and billionaires who call them home – will clamor for a potential once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add an MLB team. 

MLB has no true timeline on when expansion will occur. The first priority, Manfred has said in the past, is to find better homes for the current 30 teams. The Athletics have announced their intentions to move to Las Vegas for Opening Day 2028. Tampa Bay still must also resolve its issue with the Rays. Some of the cities without a team now could get the Rays, if relocation is the best option. 

There is sure to be massive interest in two shiny new teams, when the time comes. 

Some cities have already begun preparing bids. Nashville, with a group led by former All-Star pitcher Dave Stewart, has a name picked out (the Nashville Stars). Portland, with its Portland Diamond Project, is actively preparing for when an MLB franchise next becomes available. 

In April, Big League Utah was formed by former Jazz owner Gail Miller in an effort to bring an expansion team to Salt Lake City.  

Charlotte consistently is among the leaders in minor league attendance and doesn’t have an MLB team. Queen City is also one of the faster-growing cities in the country and a business hub that could shell out a lot of sponsorship capital for a team. 

Among those four areas vying for a new team, Charlotte has the largest metro area at 2.7 million, 22nd in the nation. Portland (2.5 million) and Nashville (2.0 million) aren't far behind, while SLC is a bit further back (1.3 million) though its larger TV market isn't far off Portland's in size. But Charlotte appears behind those other cities in terms of preparation for a bid. 

That said, Raleigh, N.C. appears to have a leg up for an MLB team. The city is host to the Carolina Hurricanes and could receive less resistance from infringing on the Atlanta Braves' dominance in the southeast. They also have the Hurricanes' billionaire owner as a strong backer and the endorsement from North Carolina governor Roy Cooper.

Portland's estimated metro population shrunk in size from 2020 to 2021, while the other top contenders grew. Charlotte's area grew by a whopping 40,000. 

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Montreal, which had the Expos and more recently wanted to be a “home away from home” for the Rays, is the second-biggest North American market without an MLB team, behind Mexico City. 

The Field has intriguing possibilities, given the infinite timeline. Vancouver, Louisville, Indianapolis and Orlando all make sense to some capacity. The always-bustling Orlando area, which was an expansion finalist in 1998 before MLB awarded Tampa Bay a team instead, could become an option if the Rays are relocated. 

The state capital Austin has no Big Four major pro team and is consistently one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas, though its sports scene is dominated by the University of Texas. 

RELATED: Ranking The 30 MLB Ballparks By Best Fan Experience

Mexico City, with a metro population of over 22 million, is bigger than New York or Los Angeles, each of which has two teams. Monterrey could get the edge over Mexico City, though. It’s closer to the Texas border, and the air quality and per capita income is far higher. Its four million people, while small compared to Mexico City, is comparable or larger than most MLB U.S. markets. It doesn't appear Mexico is on the immediate expansion radar. 

Texas has two teams but has an area big enough to take on another. San Antonio is the nation's biggest market without a team and is hundreds of miles from both Houston and Dallas (home of the Rangers). However, its current focus appears on making a major investment to its minor league downtown stadium, and pushing the team to the Triple-A level.

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About the Author

Adam Thompson

More About Adam

Long established as one of the nation's premier handicappers, Adam Thompson joined Bookies.com in 2019 after a successful run as senior handicapper for SportsLine & CBSSports.com. He specializes in the NFL and MLB, where he's hit on well over 60% of his picks the past five years. Adam's NBA and horse racing picks have also produced consistent, major winners over the years.

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