In a last second deal, the MLB and the MLBPA have agree to expand the 2020 postseason from 10 to 16 teams. This was something that was heavily discussed during original negotiations, but was later shelved. Now it’s in place and it all came about in the final 24 hours before the season began.
The expansion to 16 teams adds a NBA or NFL playoffs type feel to it. It will have the two leagues on separate sides of the bracket with the one seed playing the eight seed, the two seed playing the seven seed, and so on. But, the first round will be just a best-of-three series with all games being played at the site of the higher seed. From there, it will be the traditional five game division series, and seven game championship series and World Series.
The top two teams from each of the six divisions will qualify for the postseason. Two wild card spots will be available in each league for the top two teams that didn’t finish in the top two of their division.
The postseason expansion adds eight new series and generates a lot more revenue. ESPN will reportedly call seven of the eight new series on their networks, with TBS carrying the other. TBS and FOX will have their normal coverage in the following series.
For the circumstances of this season, I think that the postseason expansion is a great idea. But, once we are back to a normal season, I’m not sure that this is something that should be continued. More revenue is great, but it takes away a lot in the fact of having to have a great season to qualify for the postseason. The concept is too rewarding for mediocre teams, and therefore shouldn’t be continued in the future.