Baseball Expansion discussion, 2025 edition

[Motor City Sonics]

Hi. 

The A's situation has been settled. 

The Rays will soon be settled (I think they're headed to Orlando)l 

 

So that means baseball expansion can move forward for the first time in about 30 years and actually if baseball were to expand (more about when than if), it probably won't be until the 2027 cba is resolved.  So let's say they decide to expand in 2028.  It would take at least a year to figure out where and  probably 3 yeears, at best, to move forward, so we're talking 2032, at the earliest. 

 

Now where. 

I think it's practically a foregone conclusion that Nashville is getting a MLB team.   Some thought the Rays could move there, and they still could, but I am just going to automatically put Nashville as Team 1

Team 2

Places that make sense but would never be allowed to expand would be Northern New Jersey (has the population, has the money, but the Yankees, Mets and Phillies would raise hell and it won't happen).        Indianapolis makes sense geographically, but the Cardinals, Reds, Cubs and White Sox would block. 

 

Realistic chances?  In alphabetical order (BGH = Big Geographic Hole)

Austin or San Antonio -  No issues with the population or money, but would MLB want 3 Texas teams? 

Charlotte -  A BGH.   City is big enough.  Plenty of money there.   But are they really into baseball? 

Louisville -  I have heard them mentioned, but if you're going to consider them, then why not Grand Rapids?  Metro GR is bigger. 

Montreal - for sentimental reasons, but there are way too many shaky aspects about going back there. 

Orlando (if the Rays stay in Tampa).   I have to say no, the two current teams in Florida have failed, despite having competitive teams.   

Portland -  It seems like there is a BGH here and people have romanticized Portland as a baseball town, since baseball does have an appeal to more intellectual folks.   But has minor league baseball ever thrived in Portland?   Plus, the politics in Portland is a nightmare. 

Sacramento - Well, their audition this season with the A's is a complete disaster, but sadly, it's kind of unfair.   There are a lot of OAKLAND A's fans in SacTown, and those fans are not going to pay money to see a team owned by John Fisher, and I guess the ticket prices for games is insane for a minor league team.   

Salt Lake City -  Not the biggest population, but plenty of Mormon money there.   There would be similar issues to Colorado trying to play at 4/5 of a mile.   But I don't think there would a lack of enthusiasm

San Jose -  I could see this happening.  Lots of money, lots of stat nerds and MLB is not going back to Oakland after the ugly ending to the A's, so this would make the most sense if MLB wants NoCal in the AL

Vancouver - I am sure MLB loves the idea of having a second Canadian team, and Vancouver makes more sense than Montreal. 

 

If I had to rank them.......

1. Charlotte

2. Salt Lake City

3. Montreal

4. Portland

5. San Jose

 

Then comes how to re-align.  The easiest idea is four divisions of four teams in each league

But radical realighment is possible too, with four regional conferences of eight teams each  (Yankees/Mets  and the Cubs/White Sox  being in the same division), but I can't see a willingness to ditch the National and American leagues

 

 

 Just killing time on an idle Saturday.    Waiting for the game to start tonight.     And avoiding yard work in the heat. 

[casimir]

I’ll believe the A’s are settled when they’re settled in a new ballpark.

[1776]

4 minutes ago, casimir said:

I’ll believe the A’s are settled when they’re settled in a new ballpark.

💯agree. 

[monkeytargets39]

What about Indianapolis or New Orleans?

[Tiger337]

Montreal is all that matters.  Chas, don't splash cold water on my dream.  

[papalawrence]

Perhaps Sophie Cunningham should be consulted?

[KL2]

 

Portland -  It seems like there is a BGH here and people have romanticized Portland as a baseball town, since baseball does have an appeal to more intellectual folks.   But has minor league baseball ever thrived in Portland?   Plus, the politics in Portland is a nightmare. 

 

 

Someone isn't up on their current events. The legislature just passed a bill for $800 million in bonds for the stadium

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Montreal is all that matters.  Chas, don't splash cold water on my dream.  

You got it.

[chasfh]

Nashville and Salt Lake.

[roarintiger1]

How about Oklahoma City or Omaha?

[Hongbit]

I would very surprised if the A’s ever up in Vegas.  Salt Lake seems more likely at this point.  

[StrangeBird]

I was reading some articles on MLB expansion the other day, and it sounds like Nashville is at the top of MLB‘s list.

Edited 20 hours ago by StrangeBird

[chasfh]

26 minutes ago, KL2 said:

 

Portland -  It seems like there is a BGH here and people have romanticized Portland as a baseball town, since baseball does have an appeal to more intellectual folks.   But has minor league baseball ever thrived in Portland?   Plus, the politics in Portland is a nightmare. 

 

 

Someone isn't up on their current events. The legislature just passed a bill for $800 million in bonds for the stadium

Maybe. If it’s not Salt Lake, then it would probably be Portland since they’d need a western team to balance out Nashville. But Portland is not really a sit-still-and-watch-something-in-the-summer kind of town. People move to Oregon to explore their incredible, practically unmatched outdoors environment. It’s likely a reason minor league baseball has failed multiple times there. If they build a small stadium (high 20s), under the assumption vast majority of the revenue comes from outside the stadium during game time, it would probably help the optics.

[IdahoBert]

1 hour ago, StrangeBird said:

I was reading some articles on MLB expansion the other day, and it sounds like Nashville is at the top of MLB‘s list.

I only just now realized that your picture is of Arthur Schopenhauer. The old woman dies the burden is lifted.

[StrangeBird]

45 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

I only just now realized that your picture is of Arthur Schopenhauer. The old woman dies the burden is lifted.

We can only be entirely ourselves as long as we are alone. Therefore, whoever does not love solitude also does not love freedom. For only when we are alone are we free.

[IdahoBert]

What about contraction? What about suffering the consequences of a bad business plan? Too bad they can’t just dissolve the Athletics, but it would be a scheduling nightmare.

[Tiger337]

7 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

What about contraction? What about suffering the consequences of a bad business plan? Too bad they can’t just dissolve the Athletics, but it would be a scheduling nightmare.

Also, not going to go over well with the union especially with agreement soon coming to an end.  

[papalawrence]

I just hope Rick Mahon doesn't get snatched up

[Edman85]

Yeah those situations aren't settled.

And every time this discussion comes up, the answer is "which city/state will pony up the most subsidies?"

It sounds like Nashville and Salt Lake are among the tops who have expressed interest, but I wonder if the Titans getting a new stadium tapped the city dry.

[Tenacious D]

4 hours ago, chasfh said:

Nashville and Salt Lake.

Nashville Cats and the Salt Lake Sister Wives?

[Edman85]

I will also add Jacksonville to the Rays possibility. The current city government has a bipartisan willingness to throw money at the Jaguars, and the new owners are Jax based. Probably a long shot...

Edited 16 hours ago by Edman85

[IdahoBert]

5 hours ago, StrangeBird said:

We can only be entirely ourselves as long as we are alone. Therefore, whoever does not love solitude also does not love freedom. For only when we are alone are we free.

I really connect to that quote and it’s interesting how a disconnect from the world can suffuse one’s experience with authenticity. But there can be different responses to it.

Thomas Merton, for instance, went into deep contemplative solitude and when he came out of it 20 years later and was standing on a street corner in Louisville he experienced a deep radiance regarding both the perfections and imperfections of the world as indissolubly nourishing. The villainy and the kindness needed each other.

He realized that he never really needed to escape from the world, but he had to escape from the world to know this. Anyway, thanks for sharing this quote.

 

[StrangeBird]

1 hour ago, IdahoBert said:

I really connect to that quote and it’s interesting how a disconnect from the world can suffuse one’s experience with authenticity. But there can be different responses to it.

Thomas Merton, for instance, went into deep contemplative solitude and when he came out of it 20 years later and was standing on a street corner in Louisville he experienced a deep radiance regarding both the perfections and imperfections of the world as indissolubly nourishing. The villainy and the kindness needed each other.

He realized that he never really needed to escape from the world, but he had to escape from the world to know this. Anyway, thanks for sharing this quote.

 

It‘s definitely possible that there are other important goods in life equivalent in value to personal freedom, including meaningful connection with others. 

There‘s a really nice book on solitude and creativity by the psychiatrist, Anthony Storr, titled Solitude: A Return to the Self.

[IdahoBert]

6 hours ago, StrangeBird said:

It‘s definitely possible that there are other important goods in life equivalent in value to personal freedom, including meaningful connection with others. 

There‘s a really nice book on solitude and creativity by the psychiatrist, Anthony Storr, titled Solitude: A Return to the Self.

I like this unabashed embrace of “self” which is spuriously and undialectically disregarded within many “spiritual“ disciplines as well as in everything ranging from mute scientism to Lacanian psychoanalysis to various forms of structuralism and post-structuralism. The self never really goes away even when it is deemphasized in ecstatic states of beholding. Thank you for the suggestion.

I for one do hold that solitude is necessary to undermine the enculturated practice of seeking outside oneself that which can only be found internally where distinctions between self and no-self break down. I doubt, however, that in this late stage in life I’ll ever achieve the integration that Thomas Merton did even if that remains my alleged purpose. 

[gehringer_2]

53 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

I doubt, however, that in this late stage in life I’ll ever achieve the integration that Thomas Merton did even if that remains my alleged purpose. 

Not to worry, If third party reports are accurate Merton didn't either. 😉

Edited 3 hours ago by gehringer_2