In MLB, unlike the other three major sports leagues, there is a disparity among the number of teams in the American League and National League as well as the divisions.
Four divisions have five teams, while the AL West has four and the NL Central has six. The NL has a total of 16 teams, while the AL has 14. This also causes scheduling conflicts during interleague play, since the NL has two more teams. The leagues need to have the same number of teams, so adding two expansion teams would help.
Expansion
Both expansion teams would go to the AL to give both leagues 16 teams. One team would be added to Charlotte, North Carolina and the other to Portland, Oregon. The South would now have another team other than the Braves and the Florida teams, while Portland would finally have a second pro sports team in their city.
Realignment
The realignment of the divisions would be similar to when the NFL did a division realignment in 2002 after adding the expansion Houston Texans. Both leagues would have an East, North, South , and West division to make up four divisions, with four teams per division.
AL East:
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
AL North:
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
AL South:
Charlotte (expansion team)
Kansas City Royals
Tampa Bay Rays
Texas Rangers
AL West:
Anaheim Angels
Oakland Athletics
Portland (expansion team)
Seattle Mariners
NL East:
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington Nationals
NL North:
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
NL South:
Atlanta Braves
Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins
Houston Astros
NL West:
Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
Annual Interleague matchups:
Now that each league has 16 teams, every team will be able to have an annual interleague opponent.
AL team-NL team:
New York Yankees-New York Mets
Boston Red Sox-Philadelphia Phillies
Baltimore Orioles-Washington Nationals
Toronto Blue Jays-Pittsburgh Pirates
Chicago White Sox-Chicago Cubs
Cleveland Indians-Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers-Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers-Colorado Rockies
Kansas City Royals-St. Louis Cardinals
Charlotte (expansion team)-Atlanta Braves
Tampa Bay Rays-Florida Marlins
Texas Rangers-Houston Astros
Oakland Athletics-San Francisco Giants
Anaheim Angels-Los Angeles Dodgers
Seattle Mariners-San Diego Padres
Portland (expansion team)-Arizona Diamondbacks
Conclusion:
This proposal would mean each league and division would have the same amount of teams. Each team would now have an annual interleague opponent as well.
Please leave a comment below for your opinion and if you think this proposal should be revised at all.
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