MLB could keep expanded postseason beyond this year

Maybe the expanded MLB postseason field is here to stay after all?

It seems likely the MLB postseason field will stay at 16 teams beyond the 2020 campaign.

In David Sheinin’s feature for The Washington Post, he writes that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred believes a “16-team postseason is likely to remain beyond 2020, adding that ‘an overwhelming majority’ of owners had already endorsed the concept before the pandemic.”

“I think there’s a lot to commend it,” said Manfred, “and it is one of those changes I hope will become a permanent part of our landscape.” Baseball went to 10 teams from eight back in 2012 with the AL and NL Wild Card Games. 1995 was the first postseason with eight teams making the field. Though a leap up from 10 to 16 seems like a lot, here is why it’s going to stay beyond 2020.

The money, interest and expansion opportunities are in charge here.

While we should expect baseball to go back to an 162-game regular-season schedule in 2021, the MLB has to be fully aware the crashing sense of urgency that comes with a 60-game season and 16 teams getting into the postseason has been fantastic with the sport. Of the big changes baseball made for 2020, this is the one that has been met with the most praise by everyone.

Of the three other huge rule changes, two have a decent shot of sticking: The universal DH and a runner on second base to start out extra innings. The MLBPA will love having 15 more jobs readily available in the NL with the universal DH. Though it does hurt strategy in some ways, Senior Circuit fans have to admit they’ve loved seeing a ninth bat do something at the plate this year.

The runner on second base has a shot, but we’re not as optimistic about that. Pitchers may hate it, but it certainly adds excitement in extra innings, again creating even more urgency. What this has also done is brought back in some of the overall strategy lost by going with a universal DH. It has been a pleasant surprise to how well this has worked.

If there is one rule change that won’t stick beyond 2020, it would be the seven-inning doubleheaders. Technically, it could be implemented down the line if need be, but MLB baseball feels weird when you’re not playing nine innings in a game. Though it’s not gimmicky by any means, we just understand the importance of having 27 outs to work with in a big-league game.

It’s cool three of those rules may end up sticking in the rigid game of baseball. However, we all know why the MLB postseason expanded field is here to stay: Money. By allowing six more teams with allocated spots to get in, even more teams will have a chance to compete for the postseason throughout the season, meaning more interest in the sport league-wide and therefore, more cash.

Despite a global pandemic, we should expect the five major North American men’s professional sports leagues to all have 32 teams competing in them by the end of the 2020s (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL). The NFL already has 32, the NHL gets to 32 with the Seattle Kraken. The MLB and the NBA are at 30 and likely to expand. The MLS is at 26 and will get to 30 within the next few years.

Once the league gets to 32 teams, baseball will go to the eight-division with four teams format like the NFL does. Every division winner will get in and host some variation of the four Wild Card teams, however that is drawn up. With potential expansion markets candidates such as Charlotte, Las Vegas, Montreal, Nashville and Portland, baseball should have 32 teams before 2030.

Though it won’t be mostly neutral-site affairs, look for the expanded postseason field to stick.