Bud Selig, Small Market Teams Stand to Reap Biggest Benefits From Expanded MLB Playoffs

Small-market teams like the Royals and A’s are gearing up for a rare playoff race, as two of Major League Baseball’s traditional also-rans could now by in playoff contention simply by being one of the American League’s top five teams.

The Red Sox, Yankees and Rays can also take heart in the fact that all three have a shot at the postseason now that a one-game playoff will be implemented for the wild-card spot.

Those teams are the most obvious winners in the expanded playoff format, but the real winner is commissioner Bud Selig and MLB. The dollars will come rolling in now.