MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 12: MLB realignment, Willy Adames #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases against the Minnesota Twins. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Like it or not, MLB realignment is coming soon and chaos is coming with it.
The idea of MLB realignment is not a new one, but it’s certainly been gaining steam in recent years. This year, the major league schedule has changed and for the first time ever, all 30 teams will play each other over the course of the 162-game season.
There’s also the matter of expansion. Once Tampa Bay and Oakland get their stadium deals done (one way or another), it won’t be long before MLB expands to 32 teams. Nashville, Charlotte, Las Vegas, and Portland are just a few cities that may get the opportunity to acquire a major-league team.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required), recently released his idea of what MLB realignment and expansion should look like. Bowden believes that both Charlotte and Nashville will land the expansion teams and that Las Vegas will become the new home of the Oakland A’s.
What will become of the American League and National League? Who knows? But if MLB realignment actually occurs, it’ll likely look similar to the NFL with eight divisions of four teams that are relatively close geographically. With that in mind, let’s look at a handful of new division rivalries that could throw MLB into pure chaos.
1. MLB realignment chaos: Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins in the same division.
In the NFL, the NFC North is sometimes referred to as the black-and-blue division because of the intense physicality and hatred that exists within the rivalries. The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings don’t like each other very much, and MLB realignment might stir up some ill will between the fans in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
Both the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins have been at or near the top of their respective divisions of late. The Brew Crew made a handful of moves this offseason and will be in the mix for the NL Central Division crown once again.
The Minnesota Twins remarkably were able to re-sign Carlos Correa and have put together a club that can compete for the American League Central Division in 2023 and beyond.
The Twins and Brewers had been division rivals in the past when Milwaukee was part of the AL. Perhaps it’s time to reignite the Border Series. If MLB realignment comes to pass, the Brewers and Twins could create some chaos in the same division.