Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred discussed plans for league expansion and realignment during a radio interview, aiming to add two teams by 2029 and reorganize divisions geographically. He emphasized reducing player travel burdens and improving playoff scheduling, while considering other schedule changes like split seasons. Manfred also affirmed his intention to retire at the end of his term.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred appeared on WFAN in New York on Thursday, addressing key future changes for the league. With MLB thriving and no expansion since 1998, when the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays joined, Manfred reiterated his goal to select two new teams before his contract expires in January 2029, bringing the total to 32 clubs.
"Thirty-two would be good for us," Manfred said, noting interest from many cities. "When people want your product, you oughta try to find a way to sell it to them." This would allow for 16 teams per league and eight divisions of four, realigned along geographic lines to ease the travel demands of the 162-game schedule played over 186 days.
Manfred highlighted logistical challenges in playoffs, such as East Coast versus West Coast matchups that disrupt viewing times. He proposed shifting from American and National Leagues to East and West leagues, benefiting fan experiences similar to the NBA. However, he wants to keep teams in two-team cities separate, like the Yankees and Mets, Cubs and White Sox, and Dodgers and Angels.
For instance, in an Eastern League, the Yankees could join the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Pirates, while the Mets pair with the Phillies, Orioles, and Nationals. Manfred also floated ideas like split seasons or an in-season tournament akin to the NBA Cup, but acknowledged these would likely mean fewer regular-season games, complicating season-long records.
Expansion remains contingent on resolving stadium issues for the A's and Rays, and completing the next collective bargaining agreement offseason. Manfred, who plans to retire at 70, reflected on his legacy, including the pitch clock's success and record $12 billion revenues in 2024, while navigating controversies like the A's relocation and gambling concerns. He stressed prioritizing fans: "Every single day, when I go to work, I try to take a minute at the beginning of the day and think: ‘Remember, it’s about the fans.’"