According to Rob Manfred, ESPN can stand to benefit from expansion. While the network and Major League Baseball are engaged in what Jimmy Pitaro described as “healthy dialogue” following the mutual opt-out that could see ESPN’s rights split into three,

I think if we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign,” Manfred said during the broadcast, which featured the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. “I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel.