MLB Realignment: Baseball Considering Creating 15-Team Leagues, Eliminating Divisions

For months, the Houston Astros have been floated as a prime candidate to relocate from the National League to the American League. A timetable now appears to be taking shape, and the move seems more likely than ever. Wednesday morning, Peter Gammons tweeted:

Astros owner Drayton McLane is still attempting to sell the team to Houston businessman Jim Crane, who in the past has made unsuccessful attempts to purchase the Cubs and Rangers. Reportedly, commissioner Bud Selig has requested the team’s move to the American League as a condition of ownership transfer.

Don’t worry, sports fans. Nothing truly radical is imminent. But if you believe Danny Knobler, before too long there will be 15 teams in the American League and 15 teams in the National League, just as your Deity of Choice intended. Why does Knobler believe this? Because apparently the players are aboard the Realignment Train:

It’s actually surprising to me that most players even know how many teams are in each league, but I’ll take Weiner’s word that the players do detect a certain unfairness in the current system. And since there are more National Leaguers than American Leaguers, maybe it’s just a matter of majority rules.

As I’m sure you recall, a few weeks ago there was some loose (though highly enjoyable) talk about some significant MLB realignment, one aspect of which would require shifting a National League franchise to the American. And among the few candidates for such a shift, perhaps the most obvious is Houston, which could slide right into the American League West.*

It’s not often that someone makes an original point about an old subject, but I think Cohen’s done exactly that.

So, on the subject of MLB realignment and other matters, let me get something out of the way ... Monday, when the nation’s columnists and pundits and older radio hosts awaken from their weekend slumber, you’re going to be treated to a great deal of skepticism, if not feigned outrage, regarding the possibility of realignment and (especially) eliminating the divisions. Some of these arguments will be rational, but most will come from the same basic impulse: conservatism.

Not all, but most of the arguments will essentially be this: We can’t do it this new way, because I like the old way!

MLB labor negotiations have been ongoing and reportedly fruitful, but maybe the biggest piece of news from them broke Saturday morning: ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that multiple sources say a plan that would move a National League team to the American League, creating two 15-team leagues, is under consideration.

Olney further reports that one of the possible means of handling the restructuring of divisions in the event of 15-team leagues would be the elimination of divisions altogether. The 15 teams in each league would then compete for five playoff spots, as MLB would complete both realignment and playoff expansion in one seismic move.