MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is exploring a bold idea to realign teams based on geography, potentially breaking up the American and National Leagues. During an appearance on ESPN’s broadcast of a Mariners-Mets game, Manfred mentioned that expanding the league could lead to geographical realignment, reducing travel fatigue for players.
Manfred believes this change would also make the postseason more appealing to broadcasters like ESPN, particularly when featuring west coast teams. He hopes to have two expansion cities selected before his 2029 retirement and has identified Nashville, Tennessee, and Salt Lake City as potential candidates.
However, baseball fans are divided on the idea, with some appreciating the historical significance of the current league structure. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden suggested a new Eastern and Western Conference format, consisting of four geographically-aligned divisions each, in an article for The Athletic last May.
Under this proposal, teams would be grouped into divisions based on their location, such as the East Division (Boston Red Sox, New York Mets) or the Midwest Division (Chicago Cubs). While details are still unclear, Manfred’s realignment plan aims to improve the league’s competitiveness and appeal to fans.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mlbs-rob-manfred-teases-realignment-expansion-baseball-fans-torch-idea