Press conference regarding bringing a Major League expansion team to West Sacramento with Sacramento Pitch officials onThursday, May 28, 2026, at Drake’s: The Barn in West Sacramento (CapRadio photo)

MLB: Sacramento makes Official $1.8 billion bid called the “Sacramento Pitch”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

SACRAMENTO–MLB “Sacramento Pitch”: California’s capital city is seeking an expansion team Major League Baseball plans to award two new expansion teams before Commissioner Rob Manfred’s term ends in January 2029.

The two new teams will likely debut around the 2029 to 2033 season. During a recent podcast taped in Sacramento,I asked our special guest, ex-MLB player Steve Sax, who was born in West Sacramento, the same area where AAA Sacramento River Cats play their home games, as well as the temporary home for the team once known as the Oakland A’s, played all their home games, with hopes to move permanently to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

Steve Sax believes the City of Sacramento could be a successful place for Major League Baseball, and that the city and surrounding areas of the State Capital have already made a bid of $1.8 billion, and mentioned that the Sacramento area has a great tradition of baseball.

They will face competition, especially from frontrunners like Salt Lake City, Utah, population 218,000, and Nashville, Tennessee, 720,000. Many consider Salt Lake City and Nashville the two favorite cities to land an expansion team, as both cities announced their intentions years ago.

Sacramento is the largest media market in the U.S. that currently lacks its own dedicated Major League Baseball team. Sacramento County’s population is listed as 1.62 million, and the area is still expanding, with many moving from the Bay Area and other northern California communities.

The Golden State is the most populous in the US, with approximately 40 million residents and an economy larger than France’s. There are 32 museums in Sacramento, and they cover everything from medical history to the Gold Rush, the State of California, art, and the California State Railroad Museum.

As for bringing Major League Baseball, with its own team, to the State’s Capital, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said Sacramento is fully “MLB ready” and represents a legitimate, highly competitive candidate for a Major League Baseball expansion team. California has the most Major League teams: LA Angels, LA Dodgers, SF Giants, SD Padres, and the Athletics in Sacramento, in transition for Las Vegas 2028.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.