Major League Baseball isn't necessarily close to expansion, but it is almost certainly going to happen at some point with at least one city being targeted for a franchise.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, a two-team expansion is seen as "an inevitability" with Nashville considered the "most favorable" location.

Salt Lake City is also viewed as a potential expansion city for the league. Both Nashville and Salt Lake City rank in the top 30 media markets in the United States.

The two primary reasons Passan cites as MLB's inevitable expansion is the money that the current clubs would receive in expansion fees and the rise of "viable" cities across the United States that appeal to owners and the league.

Adding two teams would bring in more than $4 billion combined in expansion fees that would get divided between the 30 active franchises.

Passan noted any expansion would be unlikely to happen until the early 2030s because of the time it takes to create a franchise and it's not a top priority for MLB right now.

Expansion has been an ongoing topic of conversation around MLB. Commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters in July 2023 a timeline for expansion would likely come after the A's figure out their situation with Las Vegas and the Rays' ballpark negotiations.

The Rays announced in September an agreement with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to build a new stadium with the hope of having it completed by late 2027. The proposal still has to be approved by the St. Petersburg City Council and Pinellas County Commission.

The future of MLB's regional sports networks in the wake of Diamond Sports Group's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings and the next collective bargaining agreement with the current one set to expire after the 2026 season are also more pressing matters.

The owners will also have to find a new commissioner after Manfred announced last week he will be stepping down when his current term ends in January 2029.

MLB hasn't expanded since 1998 when the Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks were added to give the league 30 teams.