Dave Stewart-led group preparing bid for MLB team in Nashville

A group of investors led by retired Oakland Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart is attempting to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Nashville, according to ESPN's Howard Bryant.

The group is comprised mostly of minority investors, which could make a potential Nashville club the first in league history with majority ownership made up of minority individuals, Bryant adds.

Stewart explained relocation can't happen until MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred first resolve stadium issues concerning the A's and the Tampa Bay Rays. Both clubs are considering relocation, with the A's eyeing Las Vegas as a potential new home, while the Rays attempted to put a dual-city plan in place with Montreal before MLB rejected the idea.

"I spoke to the commissioner a couple of weeks ago, and the same thing still remains," Stewart told Bryant. "There are two teams that don't have homes: the Oakland A's and the Tampa Rays, so those are his priorities to make sure those places have homes to play in. But once they do, expansion becomes next on the agenda."

Stewart said his ownership group includes former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is also partnering with Stewart, according to Bryant.

The group intends to raise $2 billion to purchase a team that would play under the proposed name of the Nashville Stars.

"We started this process four years ago. Nashville is a fast-growing city. It has a beautiful population of people," Stewart said. "There's so much going on here. So, MLB put Nashville as one of its top places for expansion, and I think that triggered the idea to go down this path."