Sacramento
Sacramento fits the “minor league” dilemma perfectly. Sure, it would be a decent option for the MLB: it’s not the largest city—the population is comparable to Kansas City or Atlanta—but the market is top 20.
However, the expensive ($46-plus million) minor league park for the Triple-A affiliate of the Giants is there. Funded by zero tax dollars—yes, you read that correctly—the field has enjoyed its existence since 2000 and certainly wasn’t created with expansion in mind. A new MLB team would mean a new MLB park—or a significant renovation.
At the end of the day, Sacramento fits better as a scare tactic for Oakland’s front office brass to get their act together over in the Bay Area.
Odds: 2 out of 10