MLB Teams May Not Expand Despite Many Cities Wanting In

Many cities want to join Major League Baseball, but team owners are not sure it's a good idea. Cities like Charlotte, Portland, Orlando, and Montreal are all trying to get ready. They hope MLB will announce that it wants to add new teams soon. But what if all their hard work is for nothing?

USA TODAY Sports talked to several MLB owners and executives about expansion. They asked not to use their names because this is still being discussed. One longtime executive said he doesn't think expansion will happen. One owner called expansion "stupid." Another owner said it's not being talked about right now.

There are some good reasons why expansion could work well. The players' union would like it because it would create 52 new jobs. Team owners could make money from expansion fees that might be $3 billion per team. Commissioner Rob Manfred wants expansion to be part of his legacy before he leaves office in 2029. Making schedules would also be easier with 32 teams instead of 30.

But many owners think expansion doesn't make financial sense. They worry about having to help support two more small-market teams. When MLB last expanded in the 1990s, they added teams in Miami, Colorado, Tampa Bay, and Arizona. Some of these teams have struggled to make money and draw fans to games.

The Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays are good examples of this problem. The Marlins have finished last or next-to-last in attendance almost every year since 1998. The Rays have made the playoffs many times but still don't draw many fans. MLB estimates that other teams have given the Marlins about $4.5 billion in shared money since the team started.