MLB Expansion Could Drive Geographic Realignment, Rob Manfred Says

Major League Baseball is once again thinking about expansion. Commissioner Rob Manfred said during ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” that the league’s looking at a future with 32 teams.

He talked about how expansion could lead to a geographic realignment of divisions. The idea is to cut down on travel, improve playoff scheduling, and open up better TV opportunities.

Of course, it’s not that simple. Manfred admitted there are some big hurdles, especially the unresolved stadium situations for the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics.

MLB’s Expansion Vision

Manfred wants to add two new franchises and shake up the league’s divisional structure. He hopes to make travel easier for players and fans alike.

He gave an example: East Coast vs. West Coast playoff matchups can be a nightmare. Boston vs. Anaheim in the postseason meant awkward start times that didn’t work for either coast.

The Benefits of Realignment

If teams in the same region played each other more often, it’d mean better TV slots and spicier local rivalries. Manfred pointed out that two West Coast teams playing in prime time would actually be a TV win, not a headache.

Why the Timeline Extends to 2029

Manfred wants to pick the two new franchise locations before he retires in 2029. But those teams won’t be up and running by then.

It’s a long process—finding the right cities, lining up owners, and building stadiums takes years.

Current Roadblocks

Right now, expansion depends on fixing stadium issues for two teams:

• Tampa Bay Rays – They’ve been hunting for a modern stadium to replace Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
• Oakland Athletics – The A’s are tangled up in relocation drama and stadium plans, with no clear answer about where they’ll land.

Manfred’s been pretty firm: MLB has to solve these problems before it can think about new markets.

Expansion in the Context of Modern MLB

Manfred’s tenure has brought big changes—like the pitch clock, legalized sports betting, and experiments with strike zone tech.

But expansion? That’s moved at a much slower, more cautious pace.

Potential New Markets

Manfred hasn’t named specific cities, but insiders keep mentioning Nashville, Tennessee and Salt Lake City, Utah as favorites. Both cities are growing fast, have business backing, and seem eager for pro baseball.

The Financial Reality of Expansion

Expansion isn’t cheap. Manfred has floated expansion fees in the billions for each new team.

That’s an eye-watering price tag—one of the priciest buy-ins in sports history, honestly.

Why Television Drives the Conversation

Broadcast revenue runs the show in modern sports. If MLB realigns divisions to keep big games in friendlier time slots, it could boost ratings and attract bigger advertisers.

That’s especially true in the playoffs, where every game pulls in huge national attention. The right schedule could mean more eyes on the screen—and more money coming in.

Looking Ahead

The path to MLB expansion feels long and complicated. There are stadium disputes to settle and billion-dollar franchise deals to hammer out.

It’s hardly a smooth road. But honestly, the idea of balanced travel schedules and better TV slots keeps popping up for good reason.

New markets are full of baseball fans just waiting for a team to root for. Manfred’s vision could shake up the sport for years—maybe even decades.

If all this comes together, we’ll see fresh rivalries and modern ballparks. The league might look completely different, and that’s kind of exciting.

For now, fans can only watch and wonder where this expansion story will lead next.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Rob Manfred says potential MLB expansion would provide ‘opportunity to geographically realign’