Rob Manfred Suggests MLB Could Geographically Realign Divisions If League Expands

As MLB considers potential expansion, more teams could lead to significant changes.

During an appearance in the broadcast booth on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred suggested that the league could realign divisions geographically if it expands in the future.

"I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign," Manfred said. "I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players, in terms of travel."

Per ESPN, Manfred said last year that he hopes to have a process "in place" to expand the league to 32 teams before he retires in 2029.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported last month that MLB "believes the strongest two expansion markets remain Salt Lake City, Utah, and Nashville." He added that the league has "no plans" to bring an expansion franchise to Oakland, which lost the Athletics prior to the 2025 season. The A's will officially move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season.

Per Matt Johnson of Yahoo Sports, Nashville has been one of the favorites to land an expansion franchise for quite some time, thanks in large part to the Music City Baseball ownership group, which features former athletes like NFL running back Eddie George, and MLB pitchers Barry Zito and R.A. Dickey.

Salt Lake City has also pushed for an MLB team, with the group Big League Utah leading the charge. The group is backed by the Larry H. Miller Company and the Miller Family, which acquired controlling interests in Real Salt Lake of the MLS and the Utah Royals FC of the NWSL.

New teams could produce new rivalries as MLB reimagines its divisional alignment under Manfred's vision.