How Many MLB Teams Are There? 30 Teams Explained

By Sarah Miller · February 19, 2050

There are currently 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), each with 15 teams. These franchises are further organized into three divisions—East, Central, and West—within each league. The current structure has been in place since 2013, when the Houston Astros moved from the NL to the AL to balance the leagues.

Overview of Major League Baseball Structure

Major League Baseball is the premier professional baseball league in North America and one of the most established sports leagues globally. It consists of 30 teams across the United States and Canada, making it unique among major U.S. sports leagues for including an international team (the Toronto Blue Jays).

Key Facts About MLB Teams

Total number of MLB teams: 30
Teams per league: 15 in the American League, 15 in the National League
Divisions per league: 3 (East, Central, West)
Most recent expansion: 1998 (Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays)
Last team relocation: Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C., becoming the Nationals in 2005

History of MLB Expansion and Relocation

MLB began with just 8 teams in the late 19th century and gradually expanded over the decades. The modern era of expansion started in the 1960s, significantly increasing the number of teams to accommodate growing fan bases and geographic markets.

Milestones in MLB Growth

1961: Los Angeles Angels and Washington Senators (first expansion)
1962: Houston Colt .45s (now Astros) and New York Mets join the NL
1993: Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins) added
1998: Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (AL) join, bringing total to 30
2013: Houston Astros move from NL to AL to create balanced leagues

Current MLB Teams by League and Division

The following table lists all 30 active MLB teams as of the 2025 season, grouped by league and division, along with their primary home stadiums and first season in existence.

League	Division	Team	City/State	Stadium	First Season
American League	East	Boston Red Sox	Boston, MA	Fenway Park	1901
American League	East	New York Yankees	New York, NY	Yankee Stadium	1901
American League	East	Tampa Bay Rays	St. Petersburg, FL	Tropicana Field	1998
American League	East	Toronto Blue Jays	Toronto, ON	Rogers Centre	1977
American League	East	Baltimore Orioles	Baltimore, MD	Camden Yards	1901
American League	Central	Chicago White Sox	Chicago, IL	Guaranteed Rate Field	1901
American League	Central	Cleveland Guardians	Cleveland, OH	Progressive Field	1901
American League	Central	Detroit Tigers	Detroit, MI	Comerica Park	1901
American League	Central	Kansas City Royals	Kansas City, MO	Kauffman Stadium	1969
American League	Central	Minnesota Twins	Minneapolis, MN	Target Field	1961
American League	West	Houston Astros	Houston, TX	Minute Maid Park	1962
American League	West	Los Angeles Angels	Anaheim, CA	Angel Stadium	1961
American League	West	Oakland Athletics	Oakland, CA	RingCentral Coliseum	1901
American League	West	Seattle Mariners	Seattle, WA	T-Mobile Park	1977
American League	West	Texas Rangers	Arlington, TX	Globe Life Field	1961
National League	East	Atlanta Braves	Atlanta, GA	Truist Park	1871
National League	East	Miami Marlins	Miami, FL	loanDepot park	1993
National League	East	New York Mets	New York, NY	Citi Field	1962
National League	East	Philadelphia Phillies	Philadelphia, PA	Citizens Bank Park	1883
National League	East	Washington Nationals	Washington, D.C.	Nationals Park	1969
National League	Central	Chicago Cubs	Chicago, IL	Wrigley Field	1876
National League	Central	Cincinnati Reds	Cincinnati, OH	Great American Ball Park	1882
National League	Central	Milwaukee Brewers	Milwaukee, WI	American Family Field	1969
National League	Central	Pittsburgh Pirates	Pittsburgh, PA	PNC Park	1882
National League	Central	St. Louis Cardinals	St. Louis, MO	Busch Stadium	1882
National League	West	Arizona Diamondbacks	Phoenix, AZ	Chase Field	1998
National League	West	Colorado Rockies	Denver, CO	Coors Field	1993
National League	West	Los Angeles Dodgers	Los Angeles, CA	Dodger Stadium	1883
National League	West	San Diego Padres	San Diego, CA	Petco Park	1969
National League	West	San Francisco Giants	San Francisco, CA	Oracle Park	1883

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that the majority of MLB teams are located in the United States, with only one Canadian franchise—the Toronto Blue Jays. Most teams have long histories, with several founding members still active today, such as the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The most recent additions were in 1998, indicating a period of stability in league size for over two decades.

Future of MLB Expansion

While no official expansion is scheduled, there has been ongoing speculation about adding two new teams to bring the total to 32. Potential cities frequently mentioned include Nashville, Charlotte, Portland, and Mexico City. Expansion would likely involve creating two new teams—one in each league—to maintain competitive balance.

Factors Influencing Future Expansion

Market size and corporate sponsorship potential
Existing minor league infrastructure
Ownership interest and stadium plans
Geographic distribution balance
Revenue-sharing impact on current owners

Frequently Asked Questions About MLB Teams

How many MLB teams are there in 2025?

As of 2025, there are 30 Major League Baseball teams. This number has remained unchanged since the addition of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays in 1998.

Why does MLB have 30 teams?

MLB has 30 teams due to historical expansions aimed at broadening its national reach. The league reached 30 teams in 1998 to fill key markets and ensure balanced scheduling between leagues and divisions.

Are there any plans to expand MLB to 32 teams?

While no official expansion has been approved, MLB has explored the possibility of adding two teams—possibly in cities like Nashville or Mexico City—to grow the league’s footprint and revenue. Any expansion would require approval from team owners.

Which city has both an AL and NL team?

Two U.S. metropolitan areas have both an American League and a National League team: Los Angeles (Angels and Dodgers) and Chicago (White Sox and Cubs). New York also hosts two AL/NL teams (Yankees and Mets), though both are technically in the same state.

What was the last team added to MLB?

The last teams added to Major League Baseball were the Arizona Diamondbacks (NL) and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (AL), both joining in 1998. The most recent relocation was the Montreal Expos moving to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to become the Nationals.