This past Sunday night, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made on-the-air comments that brought expansion back to the national baseball conversation, and with it, the idea of geographical realignment.
By the time the league expands – most likely by two teams – it will have been 30 years or more since the last time MLB expanded when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays came online in 1998. That’s the longest stretch in the post-expansion era that began in 1961.
Expansion could impact the Atlanta Braves as two cities in “Braves Country” have often been mentioned as possible homes for new teams – Nashville and Charlotte. Two other cities on the fringes of the Braves Southeastern footprint, Orlando and Raleigh-Durham, NC have also been in the conversation, even if the likelihood of a third team in Florida seems remote.
Other cities that have been mentioned as options are in other parts of North America: Portland, Salt Lake City, Montreal, Vancouver and San Antonio, among others.
The most interesting part of possible expansion is geographical realignment – one that could see the creation of eight four-team divisions. As Manfred suggested, the ability to have team play more games in their geographical region would reduce travel and allow the league to possibly tweak the playoffs.
The division footprint, as it relates to the Braves, is where the rest of this article will focus. For that, there will be three scenarios – one with both expansion teams in the Southeastern footprint, one with only one in the region and lastly one without an expansion team in the region.
Braves Country gets two new neighbors
If MLB adds two teams in the Southeast with the next round of expansion, things could be interested depending on the cities chosen. If the two cities are Nashville and Charlotte, a plausible division would be: Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami. In this case, Nashville could join Cincinnati, St. Louis and one of the Chicago teams.
If it is Nashville and Raleigh-Durham, then Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa and Miami might be division mates, with Raleigh-Durham with Washington D.C., Baltimore and possibly Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
A third option, if the Florida teams were assigned elsewhere, would be Cincinnati, Nashville, the North Carolina team and Atlanta. Regional rational would seem to make the two Florida teams pair with, say, the New York Mets and Philadphia, far-fetched, but stranger things have happened.
Only one additional Southeastern team
If one of Nashville or Charlotte is added, that team joining a division with Atlanta and the two Florida teams seems likely.
If it were Raleigh-Durham, an option would be Cincinnati rejoining their old N.L. West division mate Atlanta with Tampa and Miami. Cincinnati is the closes city to Atlanta, today.
Expansion outside the region
If MLB opted to had both new teams on the West Coast or added one team beyond the Rocky Mountains and brings the Expos back to life, Atlanta seemingly only have one option.
That would be the two Florida, Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Since the the future of the National and American Leagues seems in jeopardy, here are two options based on divisions without a league designation.
A swipe at a new alignment
With Nashville and Raleigh-Durham:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Nashville
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis
Mountain – Arizona, San Diego, LA Dodgers, Colorado
West – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Los Angeles Angels
Midwest – Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs
Rustbelt – Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit
Northern – Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston, New York Mets
Mid-Atlantic – Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Raleigh-Durham
With Nashville/Charlotte and a West Coast city:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Nashville/Charlotte
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Colorado
Southwest – Arizona, San Diego, LA Dodgers, LA Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland/SLC
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
Northern – Detroit, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid-Atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.
With West Coast and Montreal:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Cincinnati
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Colorado
Southwest – Arizona, San Diego, LA Dodgers, LA Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland/SLC
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh
Northern – Montreal, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid-Atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.
With two West Coast cities:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Cincinnati
Southcentral – Houston, Texas, Arizona, Colorado
Southwest – Athletics, San Diego, LA Dodgers, LA Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Kansas City
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh
Northern – Detroit, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid-Atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.
