My MLB Expansion Plan
The MLB currently stands at 30 teams. Major League Baseball has not expanded in over 20 years since 1998, when the Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks were added to their respective leagues. However, there has been talk of possible MLB expansion to 32 teams and the MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated on multiple accessions his intent to expand to 32 teams. It appears likely that over the next few years this will happen. The main question is where will the league expand to, which cities will get new teams, and how will this effect divisions and the game of baseball overall. Below is my plan for MLB Expansion. I believe that the MLB should add two teams. The MLB should realign their divisons to eight total divisions, four per league. Below, two cities will recieve two new teams, while one more team, the Tampa Bay Rays will relocate.
Expansion Team #1:
SHUTTERSTOCK
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights, currently the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate has record attendence, higher then many major league teams. Charlotte is large city that is growing and deserves a Major League Baseball team. Charlotte currently has a NBA and NFL team and the city should add a MLB team. The new MLB team would still be called the Charlotte Knights and would join the new National League South Division. Charlotte would love their team and it would succeed.
Expansion Team #2:
GETTY IMAGES
Portland Otters
Portland is another city that deserves a MLB team. The new expansion team would be called the Portland Otters. Portland already has a NBA team and has been a top destination for relocation or expansion in the MLB and in other sports league as well. Portland is a beautiful city that badly wants a MLB team and it only makes sense. This new team would join the American League West.
Relocation Team #3:
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TOURISM MONTREAL / LOIC ROMER
Tampa Bay Rays --> Montreal Expos
For 35 years, the Montreal Expos played in the National League and towards the end were not successful in part due to poor attendence. Over the last few years, there have been rumors and discussions of the Tampa Bay Rays, possibly splitting time in Montreal, Canada. The Rays have poor attendence issues, the worst in baseball over the last few seasons. They also have one of baseball's worst stadiums. The Rays should move to Montreal full time and bring back baseball to that city.
Division Realignment:
Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios
8 Divisions (4 Per League)
American League East (ALE):
Baltimore Orioles (BAL)
Boston Red Sox (BOS)
New York Yankees (NYY)
Toronto Blue Jays (TOR)
American League North (ALN):
Chicago White Sox (CWS)
Cleveland Spiders (CLE)
Detroit Tigers (DET)
Minnesota Twins (MIN)
American League West (ALW):
Los Angeles Angels (LAA)
Oakland Athletics (OAK)
Portland Otters (POR)
Seattle Mariners (SEA)
American League South (ALS):
Charlotte Knights (CHA)
Houston Astros (HOU)
Kansas City Royals (KC)
Texas Rangers (TEX)
National League East (NLE):
Montreal Expos (MTL)
New York Mets (NYM)
Philadelphia Phillies (PHI)
Washington Nationals (WSH)
National League North (NLN):
Chicago Cubs (CHC)
Cincinnati Reds (CIN)
Milwaukee Brewers (MIL)
St. Louis Cardinals (STL)
National League West (NLW):
Arizona Diamondbacks (ARI)
Los Angeles Dodgers (LAD)
San Diego Padres (SD)
San Francisco Giants (SF)
National League South (NLS):
Atlanta Braves (ATL)
Colorado Rockies (COL)
Miami Marlins (MIA)
Pittsburgh Pirates (PIT)
Interleague Rivals:
The new divisions would cause realignment in the Interleague Rivals as every team's interleague rival must come from the corresponding division of the opposite league (AL East's would be the NL East).
(ALE) ＆ (NLE):
Yankees ＆ Mets
Orioles ＆ Nationals
Red Sox ＆ Phillies
Blue Jays ＆ Expos
(ALN) ＆ (NLN):
White Sox ＆ Cubs
Spiders ＆ Reds
Tigers ＆ Brewers
Twins ＆ Cardinals
(ALW) ＆ (NLW):
Angels ＆ Dodgers
Athletics ＆ Giants
Otters ＆ Diamondbacks
Mariners ＆ Padres
(ALS) ＆ (NLS):
Astros ＆ Marlins
Rangers ＆ Braves
Knights ＆ Pirates
Royals ＆ Rockies
Schedules:
The new adjusted schedule would be very similar with 162 games in total, though the composition would change. There will be 66 games against division rivals, 22 per team with 6 series in total (2 4-game series, and 4 3-game series). There will be 72 games against the rest of the league, 12 teams in total, with 2 3-game series. There will be 10 games against that teams interleague rival with 4 series in total (2 3-game series and 2 2-game series). Also 10 games against the rest of the interleague division in total (2 3-game series and 1 4-game series), and finally an additional 10 games against one of the 3 select divisions in the other league that isn't the interleague division. Below are the Mets and Yankees schedule in a given year (2021).
Mets 2021:
20 Games Against WSH, PHI, MTL Each (60)
6 Games Against CHC, STL, CIN, MIL Each (24)
6 Games Against LAD, SF, SD, ARI Each (24)
6 Games Against COL, MIA, ATL, PIT Each (24)
10 Games Against NYY (10)
4 Games Against BOS, 3 Games Against BAL, TOR (10)
3 Games Against CLE, CWS, 2 Games Against DET, MIN (10)
Yankees 2021:
20 Games Against BOS, BAL, TOR Each (60)
6 Games Against CLE, CWS, DET, MIN Each (24)
6 Games Against LAA, OAK, SEA, POR Each (24)
6 Games Against HOU, KC, TEX, CHA Each (24)
10 Games Against NYM (10)
4 Games Against WSH, 3 Games Against PHI, MTL (10)
3 Games Against CHC, STL, 2 Games Against CIN, MIL (10)
Playoff Format:
Mark Sports / Keynote
The new playoff format would include 14 playoff teams, 7 for each league. This is somewhat similar to what the NFL does and has been discussed as a possible plan for MLB expanded playoffs going forward. In each league, the 4 division winners would automatically make the playoffs and 3 additional wild card teams would also make the playoffs. The best team in each league will also recieve a bye and will skip the first round. The format is showed above.