It is not secret that MLB would like to add 2 more team to move to a total of 32 franchises like the NFL before the end of the decade. The current frontrunners for new franchises are Nashville and Salt Lake City (with Portland also being a candidate for a western add).
Once expansion is complete the MLB wants to realign teams based on geography. There are a few options. The first being is go divisionless- just have two leagues with 16 teams (lame). The second would be to have 2 leagues with 2 divisions of 8 teams each- likely east and west but they may name them something else. And the final and my preferred option being to model realignment after the NFL. Two leagues with 4 divisions based on geography (north, east, south, west).
So I thought it would be fun to breakdown what MLB divisions could look like after expansion and NFL style realignment. I will be adding Nashville and Salt Lake City as my expansion teams and realigning NFL style.
American League
North Division
Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Toronto Blue Jays
East Division
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Washington Nationals
South Division
Arizona Diamondbacks
Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals
Texas Rangers
West Division
Los Angeles Angels
LV A's
Salt Lake City Baseball Club
Seattle Mariners
National League
North Division
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
Milwaukee Brewers
East Division
Atlanta Braves
NY Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
South Division
Miami Marlins
Nashville Baseball Club
St Louis Cardinals
Tampa Bay Rays
West Division
Colorado Rockies
LA Dodgers
SD Padres
SF Giants
The placements I dislike the most are the Reds and DBacks. It is difficult to dissolve the central divisions. Maybe next week I will try again with East, Central East, Central West, West divisions. I think that might work better. Even the NFL has some odd placements like the Cowboys in the East while the Titans and Colts are in the south. Chiefs in the West doesn't seem right either.
It was a fun exercise regardless. Let me know what you would change.
Sats for all,
GR
I demand that the Stro's be placed in their rightful place of the NATIONAL LEAGUE!
I am not sure I am sold on Salt Lake getting a team yet... I really think they are going to do Montreal. They would then need to be placed in one of the North divisions
I would place them in the AL North move Reds to the NL East move Atlanta to the South St. Louis to the AL South and the DBacks to the AL West
The Astros were my “National League” team. Growing up a 2B, Biggio was my idol. I should really get another NL team.
Same! You from HTX? Fun Fact Lance Berkman's Aunt lived next door to me while he was at Rice. When Houston drafted him I grew up with photos of him holding me as a wee baby!
Cool!
No, I live in Ontario, Canada.
I don't think Montreal will get a team. That made sense when Bell was interested in owning it but Bell is getting out of the sports business. They sold their share in Maple Leafs Sports (Leafs, Raptors, TFC owner) last year.
Also the Canadian dollar is in the toilet right now.
I do like your moves but I don't think Montreal is going to happen.
Unless you start swapping teams between leagues, this looks like the best grouping.
Feel free to swap if it leads to a better grouping.
OK, paying no heed to current NL/AL status, here are the optimal eight divisions:
Northwest
Seattle
Salt Lake
San Fransisco
Oakland/Sacramento/Vegas
Southwest
LAD
LAA
Arizona
San Diego
Plains (Put them in the NL, so @Cje95 stops whining)
Colorado
KC
Texas
Houston
Midwest
Minnesota
Milwaukee
Chicago WS
St. Louis
South
Miami
Tampa
Atlanta
Nashville
Rust Belt
Detroit
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Chicago Cubs
""Northeast**
Toronto
NYY
NYM
Boston
Mid Atlantic
Pittsburg
Philly
DC
Baltimore
There are definitely some tough calls that end up mattering a fair amount.
A accept this cause NL FOR LYFE BABY!!!
We are doing a fantasy baseball draft Wednesday night at 8pm. Are you in? We saved one team for you.
This is pretty good. If they don't want to name them based on geographical regions they can name each division after a baseball legend.
Arizona is not placed well to me
Agree but there is no more room in the west. Other option would be to try to place the Rockies in a south division. Zona is more west but also more south so it doesn't really work either way.
I actually think my other idea to do east, central east, central west and west will work out better.
Run that North Division right into my veins
I almost moved the Jays back to the East and then I thought of how disappointed you would be. Haha