Overview

• Speaking on ESPN’s Little League Classic broadcast, Rob Manfred said adding two franchises could trigger geography-based divisions to reduce travel and improve TV windows.
• No formal vote or timeline has been set, with Nashville and Salt Lake City frequently mentioned as frontrunners alongside markets such as Charlotte, Portland and Montreal.
• Media models range from NBA/NHL-style conferences to eight four-team divisions, with protection of rivalries like Dodgers–Giants and Cubs–Cardinals repeatedly cited as a key constraint.
• Former GM Jim Bowden cautioned that owners may resist strict geographic placement if it lowers their chances of winning relative to current divisional alignments.
• Expansion is expected to bring an expansion draft and a reworked schedule and opponent mix, and some insiders also float a 154-game option under discussion.