Rob Manfred hints at geographic realignment in MLB…
Rob Manfred hinted that geographical realignment for Major League Baseball’s divisions could possibly be on the horizon.
The MLB commissioner appeared on ESPN’s broadcast of Sunday night time’s Little League Classic between the Mets and Mariners when the subject of enlargement and realigned divisions got here up.
While Manfred hinted at the thought of more geographically pleasant divisions, there was one major catch that got here along with it.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is pictured Aug. 1. David Banks-Imagn Images
“I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign,” Manfred said. “I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel. And I think our postseason format would be even more appealing for entities like ESPN, because you’d be playing out of the East and out of the West.”
MLB hasn’t expanded since the Diamondbacks and Rays entered the league in 1998, but the league is reportedly eying enlargement once the Athletics and Rays remedy their stadium conditions.
Nashville has been among the checklist of cities that could possibly be eying bringing an MLB franchise to city and one that the league is in, according to USA TODAY.
“I think the owners realize there is demand for major league baseball in a lot of great cities, and we have an opportunity to do something good around that expansion process,” Manfred said.
Manfred had beforehand acknowledged that he would really like to add two more groups to MLB before he retires as commissioner in 2029.
Seattle Mariners and New York Mets go through a handshake line following the Little League Classic baseball recreation at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. AP
The concept of realignment would seemingly imply the end of the American League and National League, bringing baseball more in line with the way in which the NBA and NHL align their divisions.
And it will represent one of the most important shakeups in baseball, which has occurred more continuously in latest years as Manfred has labored to change the principles of the sport, schedule and the postseason format in order to increase curiosity.
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