Major League Baseball is once again talking realignment in an attempt to move one National League team to the American League in an attempt to give each league 15 teams and to expand the playoffs.
Various sources are speculating that the easiest move would be to move the Houston Astros from the six-team NL Central to the four-team AL West, creating a natural in-state rival with the Texas Rangers. However, there are several theories being considered.
The biggest obstacles would be how Interleague play is handled and the designated hitter.
While I have long been a supporter of shuffling teams and have offered up some creative ideas of my own, I must admit I am intrigued by former Reds’ General Manager Jim Bowden’s radical geographical realignment plan:
| AMERICAN CONFERENCE | NATIONAL CONFERENCE |
| Eastern Division |
Southeast Division |
| Boston Red Sox |
Atlanta Braves |
| New York Mets |
Baltimore Orioles |
| New York Yankees |
Florida Marlins |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
Tampa Bay Rays |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
Washington Nationals |
| Central Division |
Western Division |
| Cincinnati Reds |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Cleveland Indians |
Colorado Rockies |
| Detroit Tigers |
Houston Astros |
| Minnesota Twins |
Seattle Mariners |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
Texas Rangers |
| Midwest Division |
California Division |
| Chicago Cubs |
Los Angeles Angels |
| Chicago White Sox |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Kansas City Royals |
Oakland Athletics |
| Milwaukee Brewers |
San Diego Padres |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
San Francisco Giants |
COMPLETE BREAKDOWN (ESPN.com)
b3878815-d093-40d2-afbf-fed34e0d5dc8|0|.0
MLB
mlb realignment, geographic realignment, interleague play, cincinnati reds