Amid the onslaught of the NFL, MLB still retains its flavor and stands second in terms of popularity in the American market, according to Statscore. However, chances are high for MLB to take things further. Currently, the league has 30 teams from across different regions, and the scope is higher to expand that and to cover a few more cities. Possible, but what is the MLB commissioner thinking?
Well, on Sunday night, the Mets faced the Mariners in the Little League Classic, an event established eight years ago and now a regular fixture on MLB’s calendar. Commissioner Rob Manfred, in attendance for the game, discussed what he is planning for the league realignment and expansion. And if it comes true, MLB might witness a huge evolution in its format and how it is currently played.
“I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign. 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…because you’d be playing out of the East and out of the West. And now that the 10 o’clock time slot, where we sometimes get Boston-Anaheim, it would be two West Coast teams in that 10 o’clock slot,” Talkin’ Baseball shared the clip where Manfred is heard saying this statement.
Rob Manfred says future expansion would provide an “opportunity to geographically realign”pic.twitter.com/RXAvmLFTf5
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 18, 2025
So, if MLB does expand into a few more cities, it could actually make travel a lot easier for players. Instead of the traditional American League and National League setup, the league could split into East and West divisions. Similar to how the NBA and NHL are structured. So, that would mean big changes for rivalries, with teams like the Mets and Cardinals no longer squaring off as often.
We would see East Coast clubs sticking together, and West Coast teams would do the same. And overall, players would face less travel and less fatigue. And in many ways, it could be a major step forward for the game.
Expansion is an old topic for MLB
MLB expansion has been a talking point for years. But the league hasn’t added a new team since 1998, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays came aboard. Since then, there have been some adjustments, like the Brewers moving to the NL in 1998 and the Astros switching to the AL in 2013. But nothing as sweeping as what Commissioner Rob Manfred is floating now.
Well, the Oakland A’s relocating to Las Vegas is another big move, but that’s still relocation, not true expansion.
As for possible new cities, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Portland, Montreal, and Charlotte have all been rumored as contenders. Salt Lake City stands out because it fits the Mountain time zone. And unlike some others, it already has a strong ownership group in place. For instance, the Larry H. Miller Company first pushed Utah into the mix a couple of years ago. They were supported by a coalition called Big League Utah.
Meanwhile, ESPN analyst Buster Olney and former Cy Young winner David Cone both named Salt Lake City and Nashville as front-runners. And just recently, ex-Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar suggested MLB should consider adding more Canadian teams. He cited that demand is growing while Toronto remains the country’s only representative.
“Fans are dying for baseball in Canada,” Pillar said about increasing MLB presence in Canada.
Hence, the opportunity is huge for MLB. And as Manfred emphasized, with advancing geographical alignment, we might see a real expansion of the sport this time.
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