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- MLB Commissioner rob Manfred discussed potential league expansion and geographic realignment.
- expansion could lead to eastern and Western Conferences, similar to the NBA.
- This shift aims to reduce player travel and enhance broadcast appeal.
- Traditionalists raise concerns about diluted playoff balance and vanishing rivalries.
MLB Considers Major Realignment with Expansion on the horizon
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WILLIAMSport, Pa., Aug. 19,2025 – Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is contemplating important changes,including league expansion and geographic realignment,which could reshape how teams are organized and how fans experience the game.
Speaking in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during the Little League World Series, Manfred outlined a vision that could see MLB move away from its traditional American and National League structures. He believes expansion, which hasn’t occurred as 1998, offers a prime prospect to create more logical divisions, thereby reducing travel wear and tear on players.
A Conference Call for Baseball?
The commissioner proposed a realignment strategy that could result in Eastern and Western Conferences, mirroring the setup in the NBA.This concept could place teams like the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Giants, Athletics and Mariners in a unified “Pacific Division.”
“I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign,” manfred stated. “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.”
Manfred highlighted potential broadcast benefits. “That 10 o’clock time slot where we sometimes get lost in Anaheim would be two West Coast teams,” he said. “Then that 10 o’clock spot that’s a problem for us becomes an opportunity for our West Coast audience.”
Concerns Over Competitive Balance
Though, the proposed overhaul has sparked debate. Former player and analyst Cameron Maybin voiced concerns on X, emphasizing the importance of competitive balance over strict geography.
“Manfred’s realignment talk isn’t just about moving teams around; it tilts playoff balance,” Maybin posted.”Some divisions get watered down, others overloaded, and rivalries that drive October storylines we love vanish. Baseball needs competitive integrity, not manufactured shakeups.”
The idea of reconfiguring leagues could
