MLB weighs expansion and East-West realignment

Major League Baseball appears poised to consider a major structural shift that could reshape the league’s geography and its calendar. In a televised appearance during the Little League Classic, Commissioner Rob Manfred signaled that expansion—paired with a realignment of divisions along East and West lines—could be on the near horizon. He said expanding would provide an opportunity to realign to reduce travel for players and potentially enhance the postseason format, suggesting the league might move away from the traditional American and National League alignment toward a conference-style arrangement similar to other major American sports.

The central idea is straightforward in its aim: add two new teams, broaden the league’s footprint, and reorganize divisions to minimize cross-country travel. Manfred stressed that expanding could yield travel savings for players and better scheduling for broadcasters, noting that the postseason format could become more appealing if teams compete within East and West configurations rather than within the current AL/NL construct. He also emphasized that owners recognize demand for Major League Baseball in a number of strong markets and that the...