Major League Baseball's commissioner, Rob Manfred, suggests that league expansion might prompt a restructuring of the geographical division setup
Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to expand to 32 teams in the coming years, with Commissioner Rob Manfred aiming to establish a formal expansion process by around 2029[1]. This would mark MLB's first major expansion since 1998.
The expansion process is expected to involve the addition of new franchises and a potential geographic realignment of the league. Las Vegas has been confirmed as the next MLB city, with the former Oakland Athletics set to relocate there and start playing in the 2027 season[1]. However, this move does not count as a true expansion team.
Cities favored by MLB for future expansion franchises include Nashville and Salt Lake City, which are seen as front-runners[2]. Other potential cities include Portland, Charlotte, Montreal, Orlando, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, Raleigh, Sacramento, Mexico City, and possibly Austin[2][3][4][5].
Geographic realignment is expected to restructure the league into eight divisions to reduce travel burdens and improve regional rivalries. This would align teams more squarely by geography and time zone, potentially changing traditional rivalries but improving scheduling efficiency[2][3][4].
For example, an eight-division structure might split eight teams currently in the Central Time Zone into northern and southern divisions. Eastern Time Zone expansions might include Charlotte/Raleigh, Montreal, and Orlando, which would help even out team distributions and create better regional matchups[3].
The North Division, according to a proposed realignment scenario, would include the Brewers and the Cubs. The Northeast Division would consist of the Mets, Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies. The Northwest Division would include the Giants, Mariners, and the Twins. The Southwest Division would comprise the Angels, Athletics, and the Dodgers. The Central Division would consist of the Cardinals, Astros, Rockies, Rays, and the expansion team in Nashville. The South Division would include the Marlins, D-backs, and the Rangers. The Mid-Atlantic Division would include the Braves, Nationals, Orioles, and the Guardians. The Great Lakes Division would include the Blue Jays and the Tigers. The Padres and the expansion team in Portland are placed in the Northwest Division in the proposed realignment.
Daily interleague play would no longer be necessary if two new teams are added. However, Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that new teams would not be playing by the end of his term in 2029[6]. Despite this, Manfred has expressed a desire to have the expansion process started by the end of his term.
The addition of two new teams could potentially render the American League and National League meaningless, as geographic realignment could lead to the creation of Eastern and Western Conferences, similar to the NBA and NHL. This could be a drastic change, potentially met with resistance from some fans and those within the game.
References: [1] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story//id/32987652/mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-says-expansion-process-likely-started-2029 [2] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story//id/32733771/mlb-expansion-cities-nashville-salt-lake-city-front-runners-league-source-says [3] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story//id/32733771/mlb-expansion-cities-nashville-salt-lake-city-front-runners-league-source-says [4] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/02/18/mlb-expansion-las-vegas-nashville-salt-lake-city-front-runners-source/6770080002/ [5] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/02/18/mlb-expansion-las-vegas-nashville-salt-lake-city-front-runners-source/6770080002/ [6] https://www.espn.com/mlb/story//id/32987652/mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-says-expansion-process-likely-started-2029
