MLB commissioner Rob Manfred signaled on Sunday that geographic realignment in Major League Baseball is more likely than previously thought, potentially reshaping historic rivalries and travel schedules ahead of expected expansion before the end of the decade.
This shift could lead to major changes, including the Mets swapping divisional foes from the Braves to the Yankees, and altering the Dodgers vs. Giants dynamic.
- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred discussed geographic realignment on Sunday.
- Expansion is expected before the end of the decade, potentially involving cities like Nashville, Salt Lake City, Montreal, and Mexico City.
- A potential realignment would create eight four-team divisions, shifting from the current six five-team divisions.
- New divisions aim to reduce travel burdens and create more geographically logical matchups.
- The proposed changes could significantly alter long-standing team rivalries.
The possibility of adding new franchises in cities like Charlotte and Portland, alongside potential returns to Montreal or expansion into Mexico City, is driving the conversation. Mexico City’s high elevation of 7,349 feet presents a unique challenge for visiting pitchers.
The proposed realignment would shift MLB to eight divisions, each with four teams, a departure from the current six divisions of five teams. This would create a more condensed American League, primarily on the East Coast and Great Lakes region, while the National League would cover a broader geographic area.
## American League Divisions
### AL Northeast
* New York Yankees
* New York Mets
* Boston Red Sox
* Philadelphia Phillies
This division groups four major East Coast cities, fostering intense fan engagement and elevating the Mets-Yankees rivalry beyond just New York supremacy. While the Mets leaving the Braves is a notable change, the Phillies-Mets rivalry remains strong. Both the Braves and Mets would now be in the American League, ensuring frequent, high-stakes matchups and continued postseason possibilities.
### AL Mid-Atlantic
* Baltimore Orioles
* Washington Nationals
* Pittsburgh Pirates
* Cleveland Guardians
The Orioles and Nationals, close geographically and sharing a regional sports network, are a natural fit. MLB already designates them as rivals. For the Pirates and Guardians, this move offers a fresh start, moving them away from traditional Central Division rivals like the Cubs and Cardinals.
### AL Great Lakes
* Minnesota Twins
* Milwaukee Brewers
* Detroit Tigers
* Toronto Blue Jays
This grouping revives a classic rivalry between the Blue Jays and Tigers, who battled for AL East crowns in the 1980s and 1990s. Both teams are currently competitive with strong young rosters. The Brewers return to the American League after switching in 1998, and the Twins land in a division that aligns better with their geographic location.
### AL Southeast
* Atlanta Braves
* Miami Marlins
* Tampa Bay Rays
* Charlotte (Expansion)
This division requires an expansion team, potentially in Charlotte, to fill the four-team structure. It would shift the Braves from their current division rivalry with the Mets. Pairing the Florida teams could ignite a new rivalry, and the geographic logic supports Charlotte’s inclusion due to its proximity to Atlanta and the travel time between Florida’s major cities.
## National League Divisions
### NL Midwest
* Chicago Cubs
* Chicago White Sox
* St. Louis Cardinals
* Cincinnati Reds
This division allows Chicago’s two teams to compete more frequently for city pride. The Cubs retain their designated rival, the White Sox, and their historic rivalry with the Cardinals. The Reds also maintain familiar opponents, even as they move from previous divisional alignments.
### NL Central
* Colorado Rockies
* Kansas City Royals
* Texas Rangers
* Houston Astros
While this division spans a significant geographic area, it addresses long-standing alignment issues. The Rockies, geographically closer to Central teams than the NL West, find a better fit here. The Astros’ move from the AL West rectifies their closer proximity to East Coast teams than to Seattle. The Rangers also leave an unusual AL West alignment, preserving their in-state rivalry with the Astros, and the Rockies align with the geographically closest team, the Royals.
### NL Southwest
* Los Angeles Dodgers
* San Diego Padres
* Los Angeles Angels
* Arizona Diamondbacks
This division groups three of the four California-based teams, assuming the Athletics relocate to Las Vegas by 2028. It creates a compelling intra-state dynamic, with the Angels and Dodgers potentially battling for postseason berths or playoff positioning. The Padres and Dodgers maintain their intense rivalry. While the Diamondbacks remain in a different time zone, their inclusion here is based on geographic proximity to the other clubs.
### NL Northwest
* Seattle Mariners
* Las Vegas Athletics
* San Francisco Giants
* Portland (Expansion)
This division allows the Athletics and Giants to renew their historic Bay Area rivalry. The Giants will lose their rivalry with the Dodgers but will still face them frequently. An expansion team in Portland would bridge the gap between the Mariners and the San Francisco Bay Area, potentially leveraging existing sports rivalries between Seattle and Portland.
## Postseason: What Would It Look Like?
The proposed realignment would alter the postseason structure, moving to four division winners and two wild card teams, rather than three division winners and three wild cards. This maintains separate American League and National League brackets, preventing teams from across the country from facing extensive travel during crucial playoff rounds, a point Commissioner Manfred highlighted as a benefit of geographic realignment.
The league could explore further adjustments to the divisional or postseason formats, but this alignment seeks a balance between current structures and the emphasis on geography.
