MLB Needs to Realign With Schedule Change and Universal DH

Over the next couple of years, you’re going to see a lot of changes taking place in Major League Baseball with how the game is played and the pace of the game itself. However, there is one change that’s already happened and one change that’s coming in 2023. That change that has already happened is the Universal Designated Hitter. For as long as I can remember, the National League was unique because pitchers use to bat and it made the strategy different for National League managers. It also forced American League teams to adapt if they were the visiting team at a National League Ballpark. With the Designated Hitter being universal, it eliminated the uniqueness of the National League and made It a level and even playing field between both leagues whether it be the World Series or an interleague game.

The plus side of this change is this allows National League teams to go after more power hitters on the market. A prime example of this are National League teams being able to play guys regularly without them being position plays. Some of the guys include the likes of Albert Pujols, Andrew McCutchen Bryce Harper, Daniel Vogelbach, Josh Bell and Marcell Ozuna. By making both leagues the same and giving them the same opportunity at a balanced roster, I believe it’s time to look at re-aligning the leagues and the divisions within the leagues. However, the Universal Designated Hitter is not the only reason that there needs to be realignment.

In 2023, MLB will see all 30 teams play at least one series against every other team in the league. This is the first time ever that his is happening. Major League Baseball is trying to create a more competitive atmosphere, but by doing so it’s reduced the games played within the division. This is obvious going to create more travel for teams, which Is why re-alignment by geographical and regional location is important. This will cut down travel time within the division and would make trips to the opposite coast much more efficient. The model I used to realign the leagues and division is the same way the NBA has their conferences and the divisions within those conferences. They make sense and they work logistically. Here is what Major League Baseball would like under the NBA model:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL 1
Boston Red Sox
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies
Toronto Blue Jays

AL 2
Cleveland Guardians
Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates

AL 3
Atlanta Braves
Baltimore Orioles
Miami Marlins
Tampa Bay Rays
Washington Nationals

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL 1
Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers
Oakland Athletics
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Mariners

NL 2
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Houston Astros
San Diego Padres
Texas Rangers

NL 3
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
St. Louis Cardinals

Let’s be honest about it. This is all very hypothetical and will likely never happen in my lifetime, there have only two teams who have ever switched leagues. The Milwaukee Brewers went from the American to the National League in 1998. The Houston Astros went from the National League to the American League in 2013. It is safe the say that the Astros have benefitted the most from switching leagues and being in a completely different division. I’m positive that I am not the first to propose a change, but now with every team playing each other and the uniqueness of the National League eliminated, the timing is right to do it.