Red Sox-Yankee series in England in planning stages for 2019

When other American sports leagues export their games overseas, they often showcase lower profile teams from small markets or those struggling to attract fans in their own cities.

Major League Baseball, it would seem, does not share the same philosophy.

Negotiations are far along to stage a two-game regular season series between the Red Sox and New York Yankees in London in June 2019, according to a baseball source. Details are still being worked out, but it would seem the arrangement is close to completion.

Bloomberg first reported the news.

"We would love to participate in a series in London against the Yankees,'' said Red Sox CEO and team president Sam Kennedy, "but this is a decision that will be made by MLB and the MLBPA (Players Association).''

BSJ analysis



It's telling MLB would be willing to highlight two of their signature franchises as it looks to broaden its scope and advance its brand in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Baseball has become increasingly globalized, with soaring popularity in the Far East along with the Caribbean, Australia, Israel, South America and other far-flung markets. But baseball doesn't have much of a foothold on the European continent and MLB is signaling that it's willing to commit two iconic teams to the endeavor.

Increasingly, professional sports leagues are intent on expanding their reach for both business and competitive reasons. Sports want to tap into foreign markets for merchandising, and it's never a bad thing to expand the game's appeal to areas which could, in time, supply a new market for players and coaches.

This would not mark the first time the Red Sox have played outside North America during the regular season. In 2008, the Red Sox played a season-opening, two-game series against the Oakland A's in Tokyo. MLB has staged a half-dozen or so series in Japan over the past dozen or so years.

According to Bloomberg, the games would be played at London Stadium, the host site for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Then again, baseball is already immensely popular in Japan and isn't the untapped market that London represents for the game's business interests.