MLB eyes 32-team expansion, realignment and new playoffs

Major League Baseball is weighing a bold set of strategic changes that would expand the league to 32 teams and rework the traditional alignment of the two existing leagues. In a sit-down during a game broadcast, the commissioner outlined a path that could hinge on expansion, geographic realignment and a reshaped playoff format designed to appeal to national television partners while reducing travel for players. He stressed that if expansion proceeds, the league would consider reorganizing teams into new geographic groupings, with the aim of easing travel burdens and creating distinct East and West post-season dynamics.

Central to the discussion is a potential two-team expansion that would bring MLB to 32 franchises. The commissioner reiterated that any expansion is not imminent, and he cautioned that it would not occur during the remainder of his term, but he also signaled a longer-term plan tied to his goal of retirement by 2029. He suggested that the realignment could reset traditional AL and NL borders, potentially placing teams in new divisions and adjusting schedules to maximize regional rivalries and national television appeal. “I think if we expand, it provides us with...