MLB targets 2017 for regular-season games in London

Commissioner Rob Manfred says Major League Baseball is making progress in its efforts to expand the sport to across the pond.

In comments made to The Associated Press on Monday, Manfred said steps are being taken to play the first-ever regular-season games in London during the 2017 campaign.

"We are very interested in playing there, and we're working hard on that one," Manfred said during an interview on his first anniversary as baseball's commissioner. "I don't think it will be an opener because of the weather issues. It would be later in the season."

London's Olympic Stadium, which is currently being renovated to become the home of the West Ham United soccer club, had been previously identified as a possible venue to host big-league games. Several of the renovations underway would make the stadium more baseball-friendly, including the addition of a roof, retractable seating system, and standard capacity of 54,000.

Manfred's comments echo previous reports that said MLB and its players' association have discussed the possibility of playing in London around the All-Star break in order to better accommodate the sport's long schedule.

It's unclear which teams would participate in the series, but high-profile clubs located on the East Coast, such as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, have been mentioned as the logical choices due to shorter travel times.

"We haven't really settled on teams, and I don't want to speculate about that," Manfred said Monday. "Obviously, we want to make as good a first impression in Europe as we possibly can."