MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is proposing a seismic shift in baseball’s structure, replacing the 125-year-old American and National Leagues with East and West divisions to reduce travel burdens and improve fan engagement.
The End of an Era: Why Manfred Wants to Ditch AL/NL
For 125 years, Major League Baseball has been defined by its two-league system – the American League and National League. But Commissioner Rob Manfred is now proposing what would be the most dramatic structural change in baseball history: replacing these historic leagues with East and West divisions.
Speaking on WFAN’s “The Carton Show,” Manfred outlined a vision where MLB would expand to 32 teams and realign along geographic lines. This isn’t just about adding new markets – it’s about fundamentally reshaping how baseball operates.
Key Reasons Behind the Proposal
- Player Health: Manfred emphasized that the current 162-game schedule creates excessive travel demands. “Most of the [time] between 162 and 186 [is] travel,” he noted, suggesting geographic realignment could significantly reduce this burden.
- Fan Experience: The commissioner highlighted how geographic divisions would create more fan-friendly playoff matchups, avoiding situations where East Coast teams play late-night games on the West Coast.
- Modernization: While the AL and NL were once distinct entities with separate rulebooks, their differences have largely disappeared since 2000. This change would bring MLB in line with other major sports leagues.
What Would the New Structure Look Like?
Manfred envisions eight divisions of four teams each, with geographic proximity as the primary organizing principle. While he didn’t provide specific details, we can speculate based on his comments:
- West Division: Likely including teams like the Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, and Padres
- Southwest Division: Could feature the Astros, Rangers, Diamondbacks, and Rockies
- Midwest Divisions: Would probably split teams like the Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, and White Sox
- East Divisions: Might group traditional AL East and NL East teams more logically
Importantly, Manfred suggested keeping teams from the same city in separate divisions to preserve rivalries like the Cubs vs. White Sox or Yankees vs. Mets.
Potential Expansion Cities
Manfred has been clear about his intention to expand MLB to 32 teams before his planned retirement in 2029. Several cities have emerged as leading candidates:
- Nashville: A growing market with strong baseball interest and a new stadium already in development
- Portland: Has been pursuing MLB for years and has a ready-made fanbase
- Charlotte: The largest U.S. market without a major league team
- Montreal: Former home of the Expos with renewed interest in baseball
The commissioner’s philosophy is straightforward: “When people want your product, you ought to try to find a way to sell it to them. It’s kind of basic.”
Impact on the Game
Player Benefits
The most immediate impact would be on player health and performance. Reduced travel could lead to:
- Better rest and recovery between games
- More consistent performance throughout the season
- Potentially fewer injuries related to travel fatigue
Fan Experience
For fans, the changes could mean:
- More regionally relevant matchups
- Better television viewing times for playoff games
- Potential for new regional rivalries to develop
Historical Considerations
However, the move isn’t without controversy. Baseball purists may resist losing the historic AL/NL structure that has defined the sport since 1901. The leagues once had distinct identities, separate rulebooks, and even different umpire crews – elements that have gradually disappeared but remain part of baseball’s heritage.
Other Potential Changes
Realignment isn’t the only structural change Manfred is considering. He also addressed the possibility of an in-season tournament similar to the NBA Cup:
“We’ve talked about split seasons, we’ve talked about in-season tournaments. We do understand that 162 [games] is a long pull. I think the difficulty to accomplish those sort of in-season events, you almost inevitably start talking about fewer regular-season games.”
However, Manfred acknowledged the unique challenges baseball faces with its season-long records and statistics, making such changes more complex than in other sports.
What Comes Next
Manfred confirmed he still plans to retire at the end of his contract in January 2029. His successor will inherit a league potentially on the verge of its most significant transformation since the 1960s expansion era.
The coming years will likely see intense debate among owners, players, and fans about whether this realignment is the right path forward for America’s pastime. What’s clear is that Manfred is determined to leave his mark on the sport’s structure before his departure.
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