Rob Manfred floated expansion and geographic realignment as a path to cut travel time and refresh MLB’s post-season format. The idea pairs teams like the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Giants, Athletics and Mariners in a Pacific Division, with East/West scheduling aimed at boosting West Coast visibility and reducing wear on players. Nashville and Salt Lake City emerged as top expansion targets, alongside Portland, Orlando, San Antonio and Charlotte, signaling a broad market push that could reshape rivalries and travel patterns for fantasy play.

But pushback from traditionalists and questions about competitive balance linger. Cameron Maybin warned that balanced divisions matter more than geography, while Manfred argued realignment could unlock new markets and stronger TV windows. The Rays’ future and the Rays-Diamondbacks dynamic from the league’s 1998 expansion add layers to timing and location decisions, with 2029 eyed for expansion approval and a linked realignment plan that could redefine cross-town and cross-state series, including a potential revival of regional clashes like a West Coast matchup cadence.