MLB Realignment Isn’t the End, League Has Always Adapted

Major League Baseball finds itself at another crossroads. Commissioner Rob Manfred’s floated idea of expanding the league to 32 teams could mean a total overhaul of the sport’s structure.

This isn’t just about adding franchises. It might force everyone to rethink the classic split between the American League and National League—a divide that’s lasted for generations.

The debate runs deep, pitting nostalgia and tradition against the realities of a changing sports world. It’s not just history at stake; it’s the very heart of what makes baseball, well, baseball.

Baseball’s Potential Leap to 32 Teams

Expansion has always been part of baseball’s DNA. But this latest suggestion from Manfred hints at something bigger than just two new clubs joining the mix.

Jumping from 30 to 32 teams would force the league to revisit divisional alignment and postseason structure. MLB might even need to reconsider its beloved league identities.

Why Expansion Brings Realignment to the Forefront

Adding new teams would make the current divisional and scheduling format awkward, maybe even unworkable. To keep things fair, MLB could have to redraw boundaries and possibly eliminate the AL and NL as we know them.

That would be a massive change for a sport so rooted in custom. The idea’s enough to make any die-hard fan pause.

The Tug-of-War Between Tradition and Modernization

Fans are split—some are excited, others worried. Those who resist realignment argue that losing the old league structure would take away a piece of baseball’s soul.

The AL and NL aren’t just labels on a standings page. They’re stitched into the game’s lore, fueling rivalries and memories that span generations.

Supporters See Change as Evolution, Not Destruction

On the other hand, people who want change say this is just the next step. They’ll point out that baseball’s always adapted—think of the expansions in the ’60s, divisional play in 1969, the Wild Card in 1995, and interleague play in 1997.

Every one of those changes sparked debate, but eventually, they became part of the game’s fabric. Maybe this time will be no different.

Lessons from the Past: Baseball Has Survived Every Shake-Up

Look back at the early ’60s and you’ll see just how much upheaval baseball has already weathered. In 1961 and 1962, both leagues expanded from eight to ten teams, shifting schedules and the sport’s whole dynamic.

Back then, St. Louis was considered the western edge of baseball, which shows just how flexible “geography” has always been in MLB planning.

What the Future Could Hold for MLB Fans

If expansion and realignment actually happen, fans might see a league that looks completely different in a few years. Some possibilities:

• New city markets could join MLB, stretching the league’s reach.
• Balanced scheduling might help cut down on geographic bias.
• The old AL/NL divide could disappear, replaced by regional conferences.
• And, of course, fresh rivalries would spring up from new divisions and schedules.

A Game Defined by Change

Some folks greet these changes with excitement, others with a bit of worry. But let’s be honest—baseball’s never really stayed the same for long.

They lowered the pitching mound after ’68. The universal DH showed up in 2022.

These tweaks keep shaping how we watch and play. If MLB expands to 32 teams and shakes up the divisions, that’ll just be another twist in the story.

Uniforms change. Ballparks come and go.

Even the league’s structure isn’t set in stone. Yet, the real heart of baseball—the tension between pitcher and batter—sticks around.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Stop the realignment outrage: MLB has evolved plenty and has always…