Enigmajones wrote:

Is there any chance of expansion in the near future?

Indeed.  However, it wont be soon.  It is coming, I promise and a lot.  I think I'm going to push through this season and a few following seasons to get to that point.  

Thanks for following!

Monday, April 1, 1889 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cut day for the two-time defending champions.  It went just as they expected.  Ansaldo Bertrand is coming back as their head coach.  The pending free agents were Ido Peyton and Volker Felix, the two best riders on the team.  Peyton re-signed but Felix decided to leave.  He has spent the last couple years as the Middle, he wants the opportunity to lead his own team.  Upon hitting the free agency market, he signed a letter of intent with the Boston Checkers.  Felix is from the nearby state of Connecticut.  Derry Savona was moved up from First Option to the Middle Position.  Ronan Engman was moved up to the First Option position. 
 
Tuesday, April 2, 1889 – St. Louis, Missouri
Cut day for the St. Louis Steamers.  Back will be Coach Elian Hillam.  The teams pending free agents were Arnold Millward and Sebastian Napoli.  The team knew they were not going to negotiate with Napoli.  They released him to free agency.  As for Millward, the team were willing to bring him back, but he would have to move to the bench.  He agreed.  Longin O’Neal was moved up to the Middle Position, Ramiro Chaplin was moved up to the Cleanup Position, and Arnold Millward was moved down to the First Option Position.
 
Wednesday, April 3, 1889 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cud day for the Milwaukee Monsters.  It was as straight forward as Pittsburgh’s and St. Louis’ had been.  Olaf Waterman is coming back as the head coach, even though owner William C. Coupe said he was disappointed with how Waterman handled the end of last season.  The teams pending free agents were Alfonso Mayer and Ernest Nussbaum.  Nussbaum was easily released without discussion.  Mayer was a top priority for the Monsters to keep.  He was brought into a meeting with Coach Waterman and Ralph Juarez.  The three talked about the coming year and the opportunity to win the whole thing.  Mayer was sold.  He re-signed.  Rodolfo Abraham was moved down to the Third Option Position.
 
Thursday, April 4, 1889 – Boston, Massachusetts
Some interesting matters took place on the Boston Checkers Cut Day today.  First thing in the morning P.T. Barnum informed Coach Leonidas Marsden that he would be relieved of his duties.  Marsden expressed to the press afterwards that he did feel slighted having only been given a single season.  Marsden now believes Barnum was never acting in good faith.  He believes Barnum intended all along to fire him at the end of the season regardless of how well he did or did not do.  The team already has a letter of intent to bring Volker Felix in, so they needed to make room for him.  Making this more difficult was the fact that they wanted to keep both their pending free agents; Alf Roydon and Bennett Cleary.  Roydon stepped forward and said he was leaning towards retirement.  Catching wind of this Felix, who was in town, came and spoke with Roydon.  He insisted that Roydon sign for another contract.  He told Roydon he needed his help.  With Felix’s vote of confidence Roydon agreed to re-sign and the Checkers released Bennett to free agency.  Roydon even agreed to moving down to the Cleanup Position, clearing the Leadoff Position for Felix, and allowing Gustavo Corna to remain the Middle.  Kim Herman was moved down to the Third Option Position and Frederic Nielson was moved up to the Second Option Position.

Monday, April 8, 1889 – Boston, Massachusetts
On the first signing day the Boston Checkers completed their roster.  The team proudly signed Volker Felix who they had a letter of intent with.  Felix is seen as a true turning point for the club.  With him in the Leadoff Position the Checkers should be able to compete this year.
 
Tuesday, April 9, 1889 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In a surprise move the Milwaukee Monsters signed Bennett Cleary from free agency.  He will fill the Second Option position, at least for this year.  Olaf Waterman said this was a good signing.  He said Cleary can help a team that expects to win a Title Match this year.
 
Wednesday, April 10, 1899 – St. Louis, Missouri
The St. Louis Steamers had their signing day today.  They have one open roster spot, but they will fill it with a rookie. 
 
Thursday, April 11, 1899 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Challengers are going to bring a rookie in to fill their open roster spot. 
 
Friday, April 12, 1899 – Boston, Massachusetts
BIG NEWS from the league offices today.  Commissioner Hubert Gotti announced that the National Velo Federation will be offering up two expansion franchises for sale.  They hope to have the teams in place for the 1891 season.  This will expand the league to 6 teams.  When these teams are in place, half the league or three teams will make the post season.  The team with the best record in the regular season will advance straight to the Title Match while the second place and third place team will battle it out in a best of three playoff series.  Again, the league hopes to have this all-in place by the 1891 season.