Rob Manfred says Las Vegas is a "viable alternative" for Major League Baseball should they relocate or expand.

The NHL is expected to formally welcome Las Vegas as its 31st franchise this week.

"I think the whole 'You can't go to Vegas because there are casinos there' ... we passed that by a long time ago," Manfred said on The Michael Kay Show. "There's casinos all over the place. I see Las Vegas as a viable alternative. I would not disqualify it just because of the gambling issue."

The city is currently home to the Las Vegas 51s, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets in the Pacific Coast League.