Last month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stirred a storm by wishing to have a geographic realignment in the league. However, in addition to realignment, he also added his plan to include two more teams in the league. Thus, taking the 30-team league to 32 teams, and guess what, that generated enough interest, mostly from the regions where fans are waiting for years to get their own home team.
So, MLB is on the verge of getting expanded amid its longest stretch without adding new teams since it first expanded back in 1961. Reportedly, the last time the league grew was in 1998. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays came aboard. And now, as the rumors are getting rife, interests are at their peak, especially on the West Coast, as their 23-year wait might be over now. But when will it happen? “He wants to do it before he leaves in 2029,” Dose.CA reported.
Now, with MLB expansion back on the horizon and Manfred hoping to make it happen within the next four years, Portland is starting to stir with excitement again. And why not, because we still remember the heartbreak from two decades ago. Back then, the Expos skipped over them and relocated to Washington, D.C., becoming the Nationals in 2005.
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In the current scenario, Portland stands out as the biggest U.S. market with only one major pro sports team, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. And if you’ve ever seen the atmosphere at a Blazers game, you know this city is hungry for more teams to cheer on. Additionally, with MLB looking to cut down on travel and balance things geographically, it seems almost certain a new West Coast team will be in the mix. Then why not Portland, even after considering that a few more teams are racing to be in MLB?
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MLB is bombarded with choices of cities
The MLB commissioner was clear that a maximum of 2 teams will be added and not more. But that didn’t demoralize the interested parties to pitch their interests. For instance, Mexico City! Yes, you heard that right. A team away from the North American region, but helpful in meeting the globalization goal of MLB. It is a long-term goal for MLB to make the league more global. And only the Blue Jays outside of America would not fulfill it. More teams from different regions are required, and Mexico City couldn’t have a better chance than this.
Considering how passionate Latin America is about baseball, and the fact that a huge chunk of Hispanic players are crowding the clubhouses, it makes all sense for MLB to have its footprint there. One recent example would be last year’s Giants-Padres series. It was met with huge fanfare, reflecting a ready-to-tap market for the league. But MLB’s slow approach when it comes to international expansion and failure to add another Canadian team after the Blue Jays is making fans skeptical about Mexico City’s chance.
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Then there’s America’s own Salt Lake City. Yes, the city has a limited TV viewers (29th in the country). But the opportunity for MLB is more than that. For instance, the picturesque scenery could be well comparable with PNC Park of the Pirates. And considering the economy and weather conditions best suited for baseball, it will not be a surprise if Salt Lake City comes into the MLB expansion picture.
Nevertheless, Portland is again competing to get onto the MLB scene. Let’s see how Manfred concludes the process.