It’s been over 25 years since the last time Major League Baseball introduced an expansion team.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays joined the league in 1998, bringing the total number of MLB teams to 30. The league started with 16 teams in 1901 and didn’t expand until 1961. Since then, this current gap is the longest stretch without introducing a new franchise.
While the Athletics appear on their way to moving to Las Vegas after leaving Oakland, it’s still unclear if MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will work to add an expansion team before his term concludes in 2028.
If Manfred does push for expansion, here is a list of the biggest markets without an MLB team to get an idea of which city might earn a franchise:
Biggest Cities Without an MLB Team
| City | Metro Population | Highest level of baseball team |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 2,940,513 | N/A |
| Charlotte | 2,883,370 | Triple-A |
| San Antonio | 2,763,006 | Double-A |
| Austin | 2,550,637 | Triple-A |
| Portland | 2,537,904 | High-A |
| Sacramento | 2,463,127 | MLB (A's temporary home) |
| Las Vegas | 2,398,871 | Triple-A |
| Columbus | 2,225,377 | Triple-A |
| Nashville | 2,150,553 | Triple-A |
| Santa Jose | 1,995,484 | Single-A |
MLB Expansion History
MLB started with 16 teams in 1901 and didn’t expand until 60 years later.
In 1961, the Los Angeles Angels and Washington Senators joined to bring the total of MLB teams to 18.
One year later, the Houston Colt .45s (renamed the Astros in 1965) and New York Mets became big-league franchises. The Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Pilots all joined the league in 1969. The Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals in 2005, while the Pilots lasted one year before moving to become the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.
In 1977, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays were introduced as teams No. 25 and No. 26. The Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins (called Miami since 2012) entered the league in 1993.
To bring the total up to 30, the Diamondbacks and Rays became MLB franchises in 1998.
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