As MLB tries to find the right conditions for a future expansion to 32 teams, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden came up with a new division alignment including the two hypothetical new franchises.
So far, Charlotte and Nashville are in pole position to become the new homes for an MLB organization.
That would bring the total to 32.
Right now, with 30 clubs, there are six divisions of five teams each.
Bowden talked about eight divisions of four teams each, eliminating the American and National Leagues and replacing them for a geographical configuration: Eastern and Western Conferences.
In Bowden’s plan, there is a really strong division comprised of the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox; and a really weak one.
The Baltimore Orioles would win 100+ games for the next 5-10 years. pic.twitter.com/BYRRFNOL7g
— Zach Bollinger (@zachbollinger18) February 7, 2023
The “Mid-Atlantic” division would be a cakewalk for the Baltimore Orioles, at least for the foreseeable future.
It’s unclear if Bowden’s plan would have more intra-divisional games but if that’s the case, then the O’s would really have a realistic path to 100 wins.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals are both at least two or three years away from being decent, let alone contenders.
The Charlotte team is a clear question marks and depends on which players become available via an expansion draft.
Baltimore, on the other hand, won 83 games last season and is on the upswing.
They have Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall, Dean Kremer, Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, Felix Bautista, and lots of promising young players and prospects.
Imagine if they had to play the Nats, Pirates, and an expansion team on a regular basis.
Things would get really interesting for them.
NEXT: The Orioles Have A Top Prospect Waiting In The Wings
