Overview

• At Sunday’s Little League Classic in Williamsport, Commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN that expansion would let MLB realign divisions into East and West to reduce travel demands and refresh the postseason format.
• Manfred said owners see strong demand for baseball in multiple markets and view expansion as a chance to improve scheduling and fan engagement.
• ESPN analyst Buster Olney and former pitcher David Cone have pointed to Salt Lake City and Nashville as front-runners among potential expansion candidates, with Portland, Montreal and Charlotte also in the mix.
• MLB has not added a team since 1998 and has yet to set an expansion timeline or secure owner approval, keeping the proposal at an exploratory stage.
• Shifting from the American League/National League model to East-West divisions would reshape historic rivalries and alter national television windows.