Re-aligning MLB's Leagues and Divisions

Posted on by Jason Leavitt

Since MLB is moving the Astros to the AL, they should consider other changes that make sense. Here’s how I would re-align MLB’s leagues and divisions.

First the criteria I established for myself.

  • Make as few changes as possible. I’m don’t want wholesale changes – just a couple moves that make sense.

  • When moving teams, keep rivalries together as best as possible. This keeps the Yankees/Red Sox, Cubs/Cardinals and Dodgers/Giants together.

  • As much as possible, keep AL teams in the AL and NL teams in the NL.

  • Continue separating teams in the same city (or close to the same city). This means the two teams in the following cities/areas will be kept separate: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco. /li>

  • Except for the California teams, when two teams reside in the same state but not in the same city, put them in the same division. This means the following teams will be put together: Rangers/Astros, Cardinals/Royals, Marlins/Rays, Phillies/Pirates, Indians/Reds.

  • When in doubt, consider the alignment of other sports to determine where rivalries exist and what teams should move.

The West:
This is an easy one. The Astros will join the AL West to be with the Rangers. Everything else stays the same. The teams highlighted in yellow have not moved league or division.
AL West: Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Ranges, Astros
NL West: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies
The Central:
I want to keep the Cubs/Cards together, the Cubs/Brewers together and move the Royals in to be with the Cardinals. The Astros have been moved to the West to be with the Rangers, the Pirates moved to the East to be with the Phillies and the Reds to the AL Central to be with the Indians. This leaves 4 teams in the NL. Keeping the Indians, Whites Sox and Tigers together (and adding the Reds) leaves 4 teams in the AL. That left the Twins and one team from the East to move over. For geographic reasons, the Jays make sense to make the move. The easy thing would have been to put them in the NL, but I kept them in the AL and moved the Twins to the NL because of the rivalry between the Vikings and Packers…and because of the rivalry that could form between the Tigers and Jays. Coincidentally, from a geographic standpoint, the AL is a pseudo AL Central East and the NL an NL Central West with the only overlap being in Chicago.
AL Central: Indians, Jays, Reds, Tigers, White Sox
NL Central: Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Royals, Twins
The East:
The Jays have been moved to the Central. The Marlins have been moved to the AL East to be with the Rays. The Pirates have been moved to the NL East to be with the Phillies. Pretty simple.
AL East: Marlins, Orioles, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees
NL East: Braves, Nationals, Mets, Phillies, Pirates
Summary
Number of teams changing leagues: 6 – Astros (to AL West), Reds (to AL Central), Marlins (to AL East), Jays (to AL Central), Royals (to NL Central), Twins (to NL Central)
Number of teams changing divisions within the same league: 1 – Pirates (to NL East)
So only 7 teams have moved.
More readable format:
American League
East
Marlins
Orioles
Rays
Red Sox
Yankees
Central
Indians
Jays
Reds
Tigers
White Sox
West
Angels
Athletics
Mariners
Ranges
Astros
National League
East
Braves
Nationals
Mets
Phillies
Pirates
Central
Brewers
Cardinals
Cubs
Royals
Twins
West
Dodgers
Giants
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Your thoughts?
Jason Leavitt (jason_leavitt@yahoo.com)

0 thoughts on “Re-aligning MLB's Leagues and Divisions”

  1. Mr. Leavitt,
    I enjoy reading your posts and use them in my stock market/trading classes at John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL.
    This baseball piece has been extremely refreshing and makes a lot of sense. As a Cardinal fan (2011 World Champions) it would be great to be in the same division as the Royals and the Twins-excellent idea.
    Keep up the great work-on and off the field….
    David O. England
    thetraderseye.com

  2. I like it. Of course, this Commish isn’t going to listen
    to anybody but himself, in all likelihood…
    This exercise is like writing to a Congressperson of
    an opinion opposite yours.. you’d get ignored or at best sent
    a polite boilerplate letter of supposed thanks.
    Don

  4. You spelled “Rangers”…”Ranges” But they choked in the W.S…so maybe it’s perfect!!! HA!!
    You can’t place the Red’s in the AL….
    And you can’t place the Twins and Royals in the NL…..
    Three teams that have won it all…and with GREAT history. Against the baseball GOD’S!!!
    Of course I hate interleague play….so maybe I’m just a hater!!
    HA!!

    1. LOL…you’re not the only one who disagrees with me. Change sucks in the near term, but in the long run it often better. The Cubs and Mets used to be rivals when they were both in the same division. Does anyone care that they’re not? I don’t think so. Cheers.

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