When commissioner Rob Manfred pointed out that Major League Baseball expansion could also mean realigning the divisions and conferences, the baseball world had itself a tizzy, speculating that it would ruin decades-long rivalries, among other traditions of America’s Pastime.

Adding two new teams would allow MLB to even the two leagues out at 16 teams apiece, making daily interleague play no longer necessary. It also creates the opportunity for realignment. Manfred hinted at the possibility of wholesale realignment based on geography during an appearance in ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball booth this past weekend.