MAILBAG: Tampa Bay Rays’ Playoff Path DRAMATICALLY Altered by Possible MLB Expansion

MLB expansion on the horizon? Tampa Bay Rays’ future hangs in the balance as league realignment looms.
Kevin and Ulises Sambrano dissect Commissioner Rob Manfred’s recent comments on potential MLB expansion and realignment. The hosts explore how these changes could reshape the Rays’ divisional rivalries and playoff prospects. Could a move to the National League be in store for Tampa Bay? The duo debates the merits of geographical leagues versus traditional divisions and ponders how rewarding the best regular-season records might transform the postseason landscape.
Tune in for an in-depth analysis of how MLB’s potential shakeup could alter the Rays’ path to October glory. Will Tampa Bay thrive in a new-look league?

2:29 MLB expansion and realignment plans
5:25 Changing team identities and rivalries
10:08 Potential benefits of geographical divisions
16:08 Easier playoff path for Rays in new division
19:04 Alternative realignment without divisions
23:40 Proposal for East and West leagues
27:25 Potential playoff format changes

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8 comments

  2. I think MLB is getting way ahead of themselves considering their is expected lockout coming this offseason. Also with Nashville you're looking at building a new stadium so you're a long ways away Charlotte is definitely more ready but no matter what it's going to be a little bit. And speaking of the Rays n their division Braves are still pretty good. I also think when it comes to traveling you're only really saving for about a top dozen series a a dozen series a season as teams play less in our conference and more playing everybody now. And don't get me wrong I'm not against this I've always wondered why the Rays were in the division they were but I don't trust it's going to happen anytime soon and will I actually make the product on the feel better.

  3. I think a lot of podcasts and influencers that are in the same position as you guys when you talk about how the games changing and evolving. It's not really evolving pitchers of pitching less players are playing last some stats are better some stats are worse. My thing is when you go out and play baseball is what you watch on TV close to reality when you go out and play with your friends. If any sport like the NBA get further and further from reality of what the reality of the game is how people connect with it, it will catch up with them. Like I said the NBA is a perfect example when I go play basketball it is nothing like the product you see on TV. It's a hell of a lot more competitive and we're not making anything

  4. Best re alignment would be 4 divisions with 4 teams each in each league. KEEP THE AL & NL
    Call them East, South, Central and West. The AL South division would be Tampa, Baltimore, KC and Hou.

  5. If you have no divisions and 32 teams, then for a balanced schedule you would have each team play every other team 5 times during the year for 155 games in the regular season, and then you could increase the number of playoff games. But that not only means cutting 7 regular season games, but it also means scheduling a lot of 2 game series – which increases travel. So I don’t think that it would work.

  6. Thanks for posting and commenting on my question, Ulises and Kevin. There is one of two directions this could go. One radical realignment. In effect scrapping the traditional National and American Leagues and divide teams by region, East, North, South, and West. Two, a more modest realignment where the NL and AL structure is maintained with some of the teams shifted around. Here is what such scenarios could look like.

    Radical Realignment:

    East
    Boston
    NY Mets
    NY Yankees
    Philadelphia

    East
    Baltimore
    New Montreal Expos?
    Toronto
    Washington

    North
    Cincinnati
    Cleveland
    Detroit
    Pittsburgh

    North
    Chicago Cubs
    Chicago White Sox
    Kansas City
    St. Louis

    South
    Atlanta
    Miami
    TB Rays
    Nashville or NC?

    South
    Houston
    Milwaukee
    Minnesota
    Texas

    West
    Arizona
    Colorado
    Las Vegas A's
    Seattle

    West
    LA Angels
    LA Dodgers
    San Diego
    San Francisco

    Modest Realignment

    National League

    East
    NY Mets
    Philadelphia
    New Montreal Expos?
    Washington

    North
    Chicago Cubs
    Cincinnati
    Pittsburgh
    St. Louis

    South
    Atlanta
    Miami
    TB Rays (League Move)
    Nashville or NC?

    West
    Arizona
    LA Dodgers
    San Diego
    San Francisco

    American League

    East
    Baltimore
    Boston
    NY Yankees
    Toronto

    North
    Chicago White Sox
    Cleveland
    Detroit
    Kansas City

    South
    Houston
    Milwaukee (League Move)
    Minnesota
    Texas

    West
    Colorado (League Move)
    LA Angels
    Las Vegas A's
    Seattle

  7. Is there enough talent for 2 more teams? Not without a cap. Top spending 10 teams grab all the superstars.
    After 2026 there will be a work stoppage. Thats when the deal runs out. The owners want a cap. Players want a floor.2 new expansion teams that pay 2 billion each in franchise fees.
    Expansion teams will be portland and Nashville but im pulling for Mexico City.

  8. Ive been working on a idea.
    2 leagues no division. Break the season into 4 sections. 50 games then next 50 then 62 then total. Keep track of season wins and losses but each section would also reset.
    Top 10 teams in wins earn points. For each group. 1st =10 points 10th place = 1 point. Season total would have to be worth more so maybe 20 points for 1st.
    Hows this help the game?
    The 1st 50 games are very meaningful. Maybe you dont let your stud rookies sit in AAA for 3 weeks. * if you have a horrible July your still in it. * more meaningful games played through out the year. puts baseball on the front of the sports page more often in the summer.

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