Commissioner Rob Manfred Discusses Possible Changes
During Sunday’s Little League Classic between the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the possibility of both expansion and a complete overhaul of the leagues as we know them.
Manfred stated, “If we expand, it would give us the opportunity to realign geographically. We could save our players a lot of travel, and our playoff format would be even more attractive to entities since we’d be playing from both the East and West coasts, turning that 10 PM time slot, which is a problem for us sometimes, into a real opportunity for our West Coast audience.”
History of MLB Transformations
MLB expansions have always been accompanied by structural transformations, such as altering the season length (1961, 1962), divisional structure, and assignments (1969, 1998), or calendar formulas.
The league has not expanded since 1998, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks joined. It has been a considerable amount of time for a thriving league to remain without adding new teams.
“Those expansion teams won’t be playing when I finish my term, but I’d like the process to continue and for cities to be selected,” Manfred mentioned, indicating his intention to retire.
Expansion Details
MLB expansion would not eliminate the American League and National League; it would merely facilitate their implementation. Here’s a possible reallocation scenario prioritizing geography:
- Some historical rivalries (Cardinals/Cubs, Dodgers/Giants) could be split due to geographical considerations.
- Placing four large-market teams in one Northeast Division might create a scenario where only 2 or 3 teams qualify for the playoffs annually instead of the current four.
Potential Expansion Cities
Several groups are seeking an MLB franchise, including the Portland Diamond Project, Big League Utah (Salt Lake City), Music City Baseball (Nashville), and Orlando Dreamers. Charlotte, Montreal, and San Antonio are among the cities speculated to potentially expand.
Key Questions and Answers
- What changes might MLB undergo? Possible transformations include geographical realignment of divisions, playoff structure adjustments, and the addition of new teams.
- Why is expansion being considered? It has been nearly 25 years since the last expansion, and there is growing interest from potential host cities.
- Would existing leagues (American and National) be dissolved? No, expansion would merely facilitate the implementation of geographical realignment.
- Which cities are potential hosts for new MLB teams? Portland, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Orlando, Charlotte, Montreal, and San Antonio are among the cities being considered.
