MLB Expansion Rumors: 'Radical Realignment' to be Considered for 32-Team League

There hasn't been any realignment in MLB since 2013, but that seems likely to change when the league eventually expands.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, MLB could consider "radical realignment" with either four eight-team divisions or eight four-team divisions if/when the 32-team league becomes a reality.

Passan noted the addition of two expansion teams is "not imminent" because there are a lot more pressing issues facing MLB at the moment, but there could be a plan in place before commissioner Rob Manfred has said he will leave his position in January 2029.

Manfred told reporters on Feb. 8 he "would like the process along and [cities] selected" before his time as commissioner comes to an end.

According to Passan, Nashville and Salt Lake City are two cities that would be "at the front of the line" whenever MLB does eventually decide to make a move on expansion.

The realignment occurred before the 2013 season when the Houston Astros went from the NL Central to the AL West to give both leagues 15 teams each. The move was done because there was no need to have an even number of clubs in both leagues since MLB adopted year-round interleague play.

While specifics about what a radical realignment might look like won't be known until it actually happens, Passan offered one example of a division with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

Another potential option Passan cited could involve maintaining the current two-league structure, but contracting the number of divisions from three to two.

It would be interesting to see how the owners would vote on any potential realignment. Particularly in both Central divisions, which tend to be seen as lesser than the East and West.

The AL Central, especially, was widely mocked last season as the worst in MLB history. It's not hard to imagine a scenario where owners from the other divisions want to take away that path to the playoffs for those clubs.