MLB Expansion: Realignment to Eight Divisions, New Rivalries

Major League Baseball might be on the edge of its biggest shake-up in decades. Commissioner Rob Manfred has started dropping hints about a bold geographic realignment and even league expansion.

The idea? Grow the league from 30 to 32 teams, overhaul divisions, and spark new rivalries—or maybe even revive old ones that have lost some heat. Cities like Charlotte and Portland are leading the expansion chatter, blending a bit of tradition with fresh thinking.

Streamlined travel and better regional balance are big selling points.

The Proposed MLB Realignment Structure

If this plan happens, MLB would ditch its current six divisions of five teams each. Instead, we’d see eight divisions of four teams each.

This setup feels more logical geographically, grouping teams to cut down on travel and pump up local interest. It also makes it way easier to add new franchises without totally messing up the competitive landscape.

Potential Expansion Cities

Nothing’s official yet, but Charlotte, North Carolina, and Portland, Oregon, seem like the favorites for expansion. Other names keep popping up too:

• Nashville, Tennessee
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Montreal, Canada
• Mexico City, Mexico

Adding two new markets would push MLB to 32 teams. That makes the eight-division plan feel almost inevitable, and it could help the league reach new fans both in the U.S. and abroad.

How the Leagues Would Look

Geography would drive the new alignments in ways we haven’t seen before. The American League would mostly stick to the East Coast and Great Lakes.

The National League would stretch out more across the country. This could really change how some divisional races feel, for better or worse.

New Rivalries and Groupings

Some of the proposed divisions really show off this regional focus:

• Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies — a heavy-hitting division packed with history and big media attention.
• Orioles, Nationals, Pirates, Guardians — a Mid-Atlantic and Rust Belt mix that feels gritty and interesting.
• Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Reds — classic Midwest baseball, right where it belongs.
• Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Diamondbacks — a West Coast showdown, mostly California flavor.
• Rockies, Royals, Rangers, Astros — finally a Southwest division that actually makes sense.
• Mariners, Giants, Athletics (Las Vegas), Portland — Pacific Northwest and West Coast vibes, with Portland possibly joining the party.

Impact on Traditional Rivalries

Change always stirs things up, and some old rivalries—like Mets-Braves or the regular Dodgers-Giants face-offs—could get split up. MLB seems to think these matchups would still pop up in the postseason, keeping the drama alive.

The regular season would lean more on logical geography, which is probably overdue.

Balancing Tradition with Progress

Some old-school fans might groan about changing divisions that have been around forever. Still, the upside—less cross-country travel and better schedules for players—might be worth it.

Besides, new rivalries could be a blast. Can you imagine Charlotte vs. Atlanta in the South? That could get spicy fast.

The Playoff Picture Under Realignment

The postseason would get a facelift too. Each league would send four division winners and two wild card teams into the playoffs.

This setup should cut down on exhausting October travel and maybe help players stay sharp. MLB might still tweak things if they spot a way to make the competition even tighter or add a little more excitement.

Looking Ahead

This proposed realignment isn’t set in stone yet. Still, it’s a sign that MLB wants to evolve while keeping the game’s roots intact.

Expansion, geography-based scheduling, and new divisional alignments might kick off a new era. Regional rivalries could heat up, and travel headaches might finally ease up a bit.

Fans could see more intense, locally relevant matchups. Plus, East Coast folks would probably appreciate fewer games dragging on way past midnight.

 
Here is the source article for this story: What MLB Could Look Like After Expansion: Eight Divisions, New Rivalries?!