ST. LOUIS — In an interview last week on Sunday Night Baseball, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred sparked days of debate when he said he sees expansion as an opportunity to do more than just add two teams.

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

Manfred added television was a consideration, as more West Coast vs. West Coast games could improve the value of the league’s 10 p.m. EST timeslot.

The league’s expansion to 32 teams has long seemed like an inevitability, if only for the primary reason that more teams means expansion fees and more profit for MLB. Manfred has said he wants two new teams selected before he reti

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