Gallagher: Manfred likes idea of realignment and expansion in ESPN interview

In a recent ESPN interview, commissioner Rob Manfred hinted that expansion is a possibility for MLB in the not-so-distant future. Photo: Wikipedia

August 18, 2025

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred hinted at realignment of divisions and expansion in an interview with ESPN at the Little League Baseball Classic Sunday.

"I think the first two topics (expansion and realignment) are related in my mind," Manfred said in the interview. "I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign. I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel, and I think our post-season format would be even more appealing for entities like ESPN.

"I think the owners realize there's demand for Major League Baseball in a lot of great cities, and we have the opportunity to do something good around that expansion process."

Montreal, which lost the Expos to Washington following the 2004 season, is considered by some experts as a possible site for the return of baseball.

The recently formed, Montreal-based Players on Base Working Group, of which I am a participant, is attempting to line up investors in the event of expansion later this decade. The Players on Base group is composed of business and baseball people.

"Montreal must seize this unique opportunity. The expansion train likely won't pass again for at least 30 years,'' Players on Base co-founder Michael Frison said in a statement today. "It's time for Montreal to rally around this project and show that our city has the market and passion to welcome a major-league team again.

"Montreal needs to put a bid in to get a team before the valuation of MLB franchises increases to a level like in the NBA. Manfred may eliminate the AL and NL and just create two conferences: west-central and eastern divisions. The Expos would fit in well in the Eastern Division with the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays.'' 

The last time MLB expanded was in 1998 when the Arizona Diamondbacks came on board in the NL and the Tampa Bay Rays joined the AL.

In the past, Manfred has hinted he would like expansion to take place in 2029 around the time he's expected to vacate the commissioner's post.

Under Manfred's watch, baseball has seen numerous introductions and changes, including video review, on-field shift restrictions, the pitch clock and the ghost runner in extra innings