During an interview on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred revealed that professional baseball could be close to a major change in its structure.
Rob Manfred openly addressed the possibility of a geographic realignment of divisions, tied to an expansion plan that would include the addition of two new teams to the league before his retirement, which is scheduled for 2029.
Manfred explained that the main goal of this proposal is to reduce travel for players, improve game times for fans and make the postseason more attractive to television networks.
MLB wants to move closer to the NBA model
Manfred made it clear that realignment would not necessarily mean the demise of the National and American Leagues, but it would mean a shift to a model more similar to that of the NBA or NHL, where teams are grouped by region.
If we expand, that gives us the opportunity to realign geographically
These statements occurred during the Little League Classic between the Mets and the Mariners.
“I think we could reduce the wear and tear on our players in terms of travel. And our postseason format would be even more attractive,” added Manfred
Under this scheme, teams such as the Yankees and Mets could go from facing each other six times a season to competing in the same division, which would mean up to 13 games a year with direct implications for the standings. A scenario that, for some fans, would be exciting, but has also been met with skepticism by the more traditionalist sector.
More regional games, less travel and more accessible schedules
Another important point in Manfred’s vision is the improvement in broadcast schedules. The commissioner argued that a geographical realignment would avoid postseason clashes between teams from opposite coasts at times that are inconvenient for fans.
“That 10 p.m. time slot, which is sometimes a problem with games like Boston-Anaheim, would become an opportunity for the West Coast audience,” explained Manfred.
Despite the logistical advantages, some sectors of the public have already expressed their concerns. Sports commentator Evan Roberts wrote on X: “Manfred confirms what we all knew. The radical geographic realignment is coming. Mets and Yankees in the same division is inevitable.”
Possible cities for MLB expansion
Although Manfred did not give specific names, media outlets such as USA Today have pointed to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Nashville, Tennessee, as the leading candidates to host new Major League Baseball teams
The expansion would allow for a further balancing of the new geographic model that Manfred proposes to implement.
In the long term, these changes could completely redefine the way fans experience the regular season and postseason of professional baseball.
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