Surprising City Announces Plan for MLB Expansion Team

Things are changing in the MLB.

While players and owners fight over the possibility of a salary cap, cities across North America are beginning to put together their pitches to MLB as expansion is right around the corner following the new collective bargaining agreement.

Currently, cities like Nashville, Salt Lake City, and Charlotte are seen as favorites to grab one of the two expansion slots to move MLB to 32 professional teams. Another city threw its hat in the ring on Thursday, with over a billion dollars in backing.

Sacramento, which is currently fostering the Athletics while their new permanent stadium is being built in Las Vegas, unveiled its own development plan today to build an MLB stadium to attract a franchise to the Northern California city.

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“When MLB moves forward on expansion, Sacramento will be impossible to ignore,” said Mark Friedman, founder and chairman of Fulcrum Property and Board Chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. “We have the market, the site, the capital, and the community. Sacramento is ready to compete — and Sacramento is ready to win."

Sacramento would bring back a secondary team to the region after the Athletics left Oakland, and though it plays in a minor league park, the city has done a good job of housing the former Bay Area team over the last two years.

It’s an interesting decision for the MLB, as they seem committed to adding at least one team to the southern United States while looking farther west for the second spot.

Canada is also expected to be a major player for one of the expansion slots, with Vancouver and Montreal both expected to make their own pitches for a franchise if approved by their city councils in the coming months.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 5:41 PM.