Possible MLB division realignment could reignite past Brewers rivalry

MLB has changed its divisional structure several times throughout its history, with 1998 being the most recent addition of expansion teams — the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. That realignment had a direct impact on the Milwaukee Brewers, who moved from the American League Central to the National League Central as a result.

Prior to the switch, the Brewers had spent their first 29 years in the American League, originally placed in the AL West from 1969 to 1971 due to their roots as the Seattle Pilots. In 1972, they shifted to the AL East, where they remained for over two decades until 1993. From 1994 to 1997, Milwaukee competed in the newly formed AL Central before moving to the National League in 1998.

It's been 27 years since that switch, which pitted Milwaukee against new division rivals such as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and once upon a time the Houston Astros, before they switched to the American League West in 2013.

Recently, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred shook the baseball world by discussing the potential for another round of realignment and expansions. Nothing is confirmed, but there are several theories out there, one of which could reignite a former Brewers rivalry.

Possible MLB division realignment could reignite past Milwaukee Brewers-Minnesota Twins rivalry

One proposal, that was made by Jim Bowden of The Athletic several years ago, has expansion teams in Nashville and Charlotte, and the league going to an eight-division alignment, with four teams per division. Milwaukee fell in the Midwest division with the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Minnesota Twins.

Keeping the I-94 rivalry between the Brewers and Cubs alive is a win for fans, but the return of the border battle with the Twins adds another exciting layer. Milwaukee and Minnesota’s baseball rivalry was at its peak during their brief time in the same division in the ’90s, and rekindling that regional clash could be a boost not just for the Midwest, but for baseball as a whole.

MLB has several potential paths it could take with realignment. Another proposal, also outlined by The Athletic, featured expansion teams in cities like Salt Lake City or Portland, and Nashville or Raleigh, placing the Brewers in a newly formed NL North division. In this scenario, the only change in division opponents would be the Pirates moving to the NL East, meaning the Brewers would still face familiar rivals like the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds on a regular basis.

While realignment remains purely hypothetical for now, it’s clear that any future expansion or restructuring could once again significantly impact the Brewers, just as it did in 1998. With several proposals floating around and discussions gaining momentum, it will be interesting to see if Milwaukee is asked to make another major shift in divisional alignment, potentially reigniting old rivalries or perhaps keeping the same ones. Until then, the team and its fans will watch closely as MLB’s long-term plans continue to take shape.