Commissioner Rob Manfred floated the idea of an in-season tournament similar to the NBA Cup. It offers possibilities, and brings challenges.

MLB has never held any type of in-season tournament, though it has tried a split season twice. In 1892, the National League staged a split season in a bid to generate additional fan interest; it did not stick. In 1981, MLB held a split season after a players’ strike interrupted the regular year.

Keep in mind that MLB players travel so much more than players in any other sport, given the 162-game schedule, even with it divided up into 2-4 game series throughout the season. Manfred also discussed what a problem the first round of playoff games can be,