Here we go again, with the talk of expansion in the MLB. And this time, it’s not just some hot stove rumor cooked up by fan blogs in the dead of winter. Nope — this one came straight from the top, live on ESPN, during the Little League Classic. Commissioner Rob Manfred didn’t just crack open the door to expansion and realignment… he flung it wide open.
Manfred Eyes Realignment to Cut Travel, Boost MLB TV Appeal
“I think if we expand it, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign,” Manfred said during the broadcast, and you could almost hear a thousand owners perking up in their leather chairs, calculators in hand. Why? Because expansion means one thing: money. But it’s more than just adding teams. Manfred’s vision is for a bigger, better-aligned, and travel-friendly MLB — and that could actually be a game-changer.
Let’s talk wear and tear. Baseball is a brutal 162-game marathon, and cross-country travel can really wear guys down. Manfred sees geographic realignment not just as a logistical tweak, but as a strategic advantage — less jet lag, better rest, and ideally, a better product on the field. Plus, let’s not forget TV. That 10 p.m. slot that currently gives ESPN headaches when Boston and Anaheim square off? If you’ve got two West Coast teams instead, that late-night window becomes prime time for millions out west.
Salt Lake and Nashville Still in the Running for Expansion
And let’s not skim past this little nugget: “I think the owners realize there’s demand for MLB in a lot of great cities.” That’s a diplomatic way of saying the league is watching places like Salt Lake City and Nashville very closely. Both have been floated as frontrunners for a while, and they’ve got what matters most — money, market potential, and political will.
That said, don’t hold your breath just yet. MLB’s hands are still tied with two lingering headaches: the stadium situations in Oakland and Tampa Bay. Until the A’s and Rays have firm ground — literally — to stand on, expansion remains a dream waiting for a shovel.
With a 32-Team League, the Divisions Could Get a Shake-Up
Now, remember, Manfred’s on record saying he wants expansion to 32 teams before his contract ends in 2029. That’s not some random hope; that’s a ticking clock. And if the stadium dust settles soon, that countdown officially begins. But here’s the kicker: adding teams doesn’t just mean more games — it could flip the league’s entire structure.
Forget the old-school two-league, eight-division format. We’re talking bold new alignments, regional pods, maybe even a postseason shake-up that adds drama and ratings. The traditionalists might squirm, but fans are hungry for something fresh. They’re watching this space very, very closely.
