MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred had a grand vision, and he’s waited years for a move that could reshape Major League Baseball once again.
He will thank the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays for it; they were the final obstacles in his grand plan to expand MLB.
How the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays Were An Obstacle in Rob Manfred’s Expansion Plans
Manfred has been adamant about MLB expansion for several years, which will not occur until the stadium deals with the Rays and the A’s are resolved.
Why? Manfred wants stability in the league before he takes such a big step as adding more teams. He can achieve that by making sure all 30 teams are committed for the long term in their current ballparks.
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In November 2024, the MLB commissioner told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that he wants the process finalized during his term in office, which ends in January 2029.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to work through the situation in Tampa Bay in a way that keeps me on the timetable that I’ve articulated, which is to have an expansion decision made before I leave in four years.”
Now he might have received a green light for a move he’s waited years to make.
With ground already broken in Las Vegas for the A’s relocation, Manfred turns his attention to the Rays.
The Athletics had their Las Vegas ballpark groundbreaking today. pic.twitter.com/meprkKoXTh
— MLB Cathedrals (@MLBcathedrals) June 23, 2025
According to reports, the Rays are in exclusive talks to sell the team for $1.7 billion to a group led by Jacksonville developer and billionaire Patrick Zalupski.
Current owner Stuart Sternberg recently scrapped a proposed stadium project after two hurricanes disrupted the region, making it difficult for the work to continue.
With Tropicana Field under repair, the Rays are playing at the Yankees’ spring training site, George M. Steinbrenner Field, for the 2025 season.
If that $1.7 billion deal is finalized, it would secure the team’s long-term future in the region and remove the final obstacle to MLB expansion.
Which Are the Favorite Cities For MLB Expansion?
With the A’s and Rays’ uncertainties on their long-term stadium deals nearly resolved, MLB can now turn its attention to expansion, for the first time since 1998.
Two new franchises will be in the race to be added to the existing 30 teams. The favorite cities? Salt Lake City and Nashville, according to USA Today’s Ben Nightengale.
If all goes according to plan, MLB could green-light expansion within the next two years, with new teams joining the league by the 2031 season.