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MLB realignment plan draws backlash

Commissioner Rob Manfred floated geographic realignment during a televised event, triggering broad reaction from fans and pundits.

August 19, 2025 at 01:41 AM
blur Rob Manfred's MLB realignment idea being met with harsh reactions

Baseball fans and pundits weigh the consequences after Commissioner Rob Manfred floated a league realignment during a Little League Classic broadcast.

MLB realignment plan provokes strong backlash

Commissioner Rob Manfred floated a realignment during the ESPN telecast of the MLB Little League Classic. He said expansion could enable geographic realignment and reduce travel, while potentially reshaping the postseason. This would be a major shift away from the long standing American League and National League structure that has defined MLB for more than a century. Expansion would require new markets such as Nashville, Portland, Salt Lake City, Orlando and Charlotte and it is not clear what exact divisions would look like or how the schedule would work. Reactions quickly poured in from fans and former players who argued that such a move would erode rivalries and traditions that draw eyes to October.

Key Takeaways

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Realignment would replace the AL NL system with geographic conferences
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Expansion markets will shape the new league map
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Travel reductions are a stated benefit but scheduling still complex
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Fan loyalty to rivalries could be tested by new alignments
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No concrete plan exists yet parameters are undefined
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The process may hinge on ownership and broadcaster support
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Timing matters with a planned 2029 departure

"Expansion could save a lot of wear and tear on our players."

Manfred on expansion benefits during the discussion.

"The last move before total destruction of the traditions that made baseball great."

Howie Rose describing the perceived threat to tradition.

"Some divisions get watered down, others overloaded and rivalries that drive October storylines we love, vanish."

Cameron Maybin on potential balance shifts.

"There is no exact science to mapping out the best geographically based divisions."

Analyst noting planning uncertainty.

The idea exposes a tension between modernization and tradition. If the league reshapes its map, it risks upsetting fans who identify with long running rivalries and a fixed league structure. Travel savings could benefit players and broadcasters, but the cost of rebranding and scheduling chaos might mute those gains. The plan would require buy in from teams, broadcasters and sponsors, and its success would depend on a credible timeline and clear parameters. With Manfred planning to retire in 2029, timing adds another layer of risk and political weight.

Highlights

  • Expansion could save a lot of wear and tear on our players.
  • Rivalries drive October storylines and make baseball great.
  • Baseball needs competitive integrity not manufactured shakeups.
  • There is no exact science to mapping out the best geographically based divisions.

MLB realignment plan could trigger backlash

The proposal touches on sensitive topics like tradition, market growth and revenue sharing. Fans and local markets may push back if schedules, rivalries and identities are altered without clear parameters.

As the sport weighs the cost of tradition against the lure of a reshaped future, the next steps will reveal how serious this push is.

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