Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is once again considering significant changes to the league's structure, with a new realignment plan that could dramatically alter the landscape for the Toronto Blue Jays and their historic rivalries.
Manfred's Vision: Eight Divisions, Geographic Focus
During a January 8, 2026, appearance on WFAN's The Craig Carton Show, Manfred outlined a potential future for MLB that includes expansion to 32 teams and a complete geographic realignment. The commissioner proposed creating eight divisions of four teams each. A key principle of this new plan is keeping teams from the same metropolitan area in separate divisions, meaning the New York Yankees and Mets, Chicago's Cubs and White Sox, and Los Angeles's Dodgers and Angels would not compete directly for a division title.
This marks a shift from a widely reported proposal from August of the previous year, which suggested creating an East Coast "powerhouse" division featuring the Yankees, Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Where Would the Toronto Blue Jays Land?
The fate of the Blue Jays in any realignment is a major question for Canadian fans. Under the August proposal, Toronto would have left the American League East entirely. Reports indicated the Jays would be placed in a new "North" division alongside the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins.
Such a move would be polarizing. On one hand, escaping the financial juggernauts of the AL East could provide an easier annual path to the playoffs. On the other, the team would lose the significant revenue generated when popular draws like the Yankees and Red Sox visit Rogers Centre. Traditional rivalries with the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays would also fade.
The Blue Jays have been a cornerstone of the AL East since joining the league as an expansion team in 1977. They share history with the proposed division mates: the Tigers and Brewers were both formerly in the AL East. The Brewers moved to the AL Central in 1994 and later to the National League, while the Tigers switched to the AL Central in 1998. The Twins and Jays have never shared a division but have playoff history, including a Twins sweep in the 2023 Wild Card series.
However, Manfred's latest comments about separating city rivals could leave the door open for Toronto to remain in a division with the Yankees, potentially preserving that key matchup.
Expansion and the Drive for Change
The push for realignment is tied directly to Manfred's desire to expand the league before his planned retirement in 2029. "I would like to expand to 32 (teams). It would be good for us," Manfred stated during the interview. He argued that expansion satisfies market demand and creates a cleaner format for scheduling.
The primary benefit, according to the commissioner, is reduced travel. A geographic realignment would ease the grueling 162-game schedule played over 186 days, promoting player health and safety. Cities rumored as potential expansion targets include Nashville, Charlotte, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Montreal, which lost the Expos to Washington in 2005.
Manfred also highlighted playoff benefits, suggesting a format where East and West teams play through their own brackets to the World Series. This could eliminate late-night East Coast start times for West Coast games, turning them into prime-time events for their local markets.
While these plans are still in the discussion phase, they signal Manfred's ongoing intent to reshape Major League Baseball, with the Toronto Blue Jays' competitive and financial future hanging in the balance.
