"MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, in his quest to change everything we know about the game before he departs in 2029, said as much on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" last week when he said expansion would "provide us with an opportunity to geographically realign." Instead of adding one team to each league, he envisions massive change with old National League and American League allegiances removed from the equation."
""We could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel," he said. "And I think our postseason format would be even more appealing for entities like ESPN, because you'd be playing out of the East and out of the West. That 10 o'clock time slot, where we sometimes get Boston-Anaheim, would be two West Coast teams. That 10 o'clock slot that's a problem for us sometimes becomes a real opportunity for our West Coast audience.""
MLB expansion to 32 teams would enable geographic realignment that could place the Chicago Cubs and White Sox in the same division. The proposed realignment aims to reduce player travel and create East/West divisions that better serve television windows, especially for West Coast audiences. Expansion offers owners travel savings and increased revenue from larger national TV deals. Recent changes tied to this era include the pitch clock, the ghost runner in extra innings, automated umpires, and reinstatement of Pete Rose's eligibility. The timing and city selections for expansion remain open and will shape the league's economic landscape.
Read at Yahoo Sports
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