MLB Should Expand But Cannot Depart From American League-National League Format
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Major League Baseball has been rumored to be seeking expansion. On the broadcast of "Sunday Night Baseball," Rob Manfred stated that the league could realign geographically if they were to expand. This would be a monumental mistake to remove two of the founding pieces of the league.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: The National League team celebrates winning the Swing Off to win the All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: The National League team celebrates winning the Swing Off to win the All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Photo byThere is a way to expand and realign without sacrificing the two leagues that have made up the World Series participants since 1903. Depending on the location of potential expansion teams and utilizing the ability to transfer teams from one league to the other, as MLB did with the Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros, during times of expansion and realignment.
Maneuvering teams that have cross-league flexibility would be the simplest way to keep longstanding rivalries like the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, along with the fresh new rivalries like the Astros and Texas Rangers.
While realignment will likely be necessary, it would be a mistake to remove the two leagues entirely and move to an East-West alignment like the NHL and NBA. The National and American Leagues were the initial founding parties of Major League Baseball, and now it seems that their existence is at risk.
Moving teams from one league to the other would only be based on necessity, and geographical alignments are needed to create an even number of teams in both leagues.
MLB likely won't going to be expanding until after the Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays have permanent stadiums built, but the process has to begin somewhere.
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