Realigning the National League Divisions: What if the Padres Relocated to Washington D.C.?

The often-discussed relocation of the San Diego Padres to Washington D.C. has sparked interest in how Major League Baseball (MLB) might have realigned its divisions. This hypothetical scenario, while not official, provides insight into the complexities and potential outcomes of such a move. Let's explore a possible realignment in the National League (NL) following the Padres' relocation.

Current Divisions in the National League

Heading into the 2021 season, the Padres were a major player in the NL West, symbolized by the increasing drama of the Dodgers-Padres rivalry. The Padres even made news by acquiring star pitcher Blake Snell. However, if the Padres had ended up in Washington D.C., MLB would have faced new challenges in reconfiguring the divisions. Let's rewind a bit and see how the scenario might have played out.

The 1974 Situation

In the 1974 baseball season, the travel distance for teams was already extensive, with Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves (all in the NL West) playing common opponents in California 18 games each per season. To conserve travel, teams often organized their trips in what is known as "travel pods." For instance, the Reds, Astros, and Braves would travel together to California, stopping in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Proposed Realignment

Considering the geography and historical rivalries, a plausible realignment might have looked like this:

National League West

- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- St. Louis

Chicago and St. Louis are known for their historic rivalry, the Cubs-Cardinals series, making it logical to keep them in the same division. This division would include the West Coast cities (San Francisco and Los Angeles) and the two historically significant cities in the Midwest.

National League Central

- Cincinnati
- Pittsburgh
- Houston
- Atlanta

The Central division would consist of the remaining teams that are geographically and historically aligned in the Midwest region.

National League East

- Montreal
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Washington

With Washington, D.C., replacing San Diego, the East division would be adjusted based on their relative positions. This version of the East division would have included Montreal and New York, geographically closer to the East Coast, and Philadelphia and the new Washington location.

Historical Context

It’s worth noting that historically, the NL did realign in 1994, with Atlanta moving to the East and Cincinnati to the Central. Given that the league has a history of using geographic and historical considerations in division realignment, a similar approach would likely have been applied.

Further Considerations

The challenge would have centered on maintaining historic rivalries and balancing travel logistics. If the realignment had required the Padres to join a new division, there was a risk of splitting the most historic rivalry (Dodgers-Giants) if St. Louis stayed in the West.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the exact realignment of the National League divisions following the Padres' move to Washington D.C. is speculative, the proposed structure is based on geographic and historical considerations. The success of this realignment would depend on balancing travel efficiencies, preserving historic rivalries, and maintaining competitive balance.

For fans and historians of baseball, understanding these hypothetical scenarios provides a fun and informative glimpse into the complexities of MLB realignment.