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Yankees Fans Should Be Psyched About Potential MLB Realignment

By Scott Rogust

The Yankees will be the odds on favorites to win the proposed 10-team East division.
The Yankees will be the odds on favorites to win the proposed 10-team East division. / Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Baseball fans have heard it all in terms of reopening the 2020 MLB season during the global coronavirus pandemic. From all 30 teams residing in Arizona, to even playing in Japan. But Tuesday, a report indicated that the league is considering realigning into three 10-team divisions based off geographical location.

Perhaps the biggest winners of this proposed plan? The New York Yankees, whose fans should be pumped if commissioner Rob Manfred and the players union agree to terms.

First of all, the Yankees will still have their usual AL East rivals in the altered division. Plus, they would play bottom-dwelling, rebuilding teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins as an added bonus. Oh, and there's the caveat of flexing their muscles in a season-long, recurring Subway Series with the New York Mets, which is always fun for the Bronx Bombers.

But perhaps the biggest advantage for the Yankees in this new plan is they won't have to play the Atlanta Braves, who get shipped to the Central under this model.

One of the many ideas to resume the 2020 campaign was to organize the divisions based off the Grapefruit League-Cactus League Spring Training setup. In that original plan, the Yankees and Braves would play in the same division, which would be a nightmare scenario for New York. Why? Because Atlanta is one of the only teams that can come close to matching them in overall talent.

The Braves already had a stacked roster at the conclusion of this past season, boasting Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Freddie Freeman at the top of the batting order. During the offseason, Atlanta added starting pitcher Cole Hamels, power-hitting outfielder Marcell Ozuna, and closer Will Smith.

Yes, Yankees vs. Braves multiple times this season would make for great television, but that's not what New York fans necessarily want; it's all about getting back to the World Series. Every fan base wants that. Not having to play Atlanta multiple times under this proposed blueprint only makes the Yankees' "Quest for 28" that much easier.