Cincinnati Reds: Three-state plan could create a combined Central Division

A new proposed plan that MLB appears to be contemplating could see the Cincinnati Reds merge with nine other teams and play in Texas.

How about the MLB Central? That could be what we see during the 2020 baseball. According to CBS Sports, the newest proposal from Major League Baseball could see baseball played in Florida, Arizona and Texas. The best-case scenario as part of the proposed three-state plan may be for the Cincinnati Reds to merge with other nine teams from the NL and AL Central.

Imagine a division comprised of the Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins. That sounds pretty fun, right? Well, that may be what we see if the new three-state plan becomes a reality.

The proposed plan would see Major League Baseball play games in three states; Texas, Arizona and Florida. Before this, it appeared as though the best solution for MLB was to sequester teams exclusively in Arizona or divide the teams between Arizona and Florida with games being played at spring training facilities.

Moving the Reds, along with the other teams from both the National League Central and the American League Central to play in Arlington would make the most sense. In theory, Major League Baseball could do the same with those teams in the NL and AL East (Florida) and the NL and AL West (Arizona).

This could solve a myriad of issues that would’ve presented themselves if MLB chose to pursue just playing all games in one location. If Arizona was the destination for all 30 teams, even though spring training sites could be used, the heat of the Arizona summer would likely require teams to play games late at night.

Furthermore, while rain is oftentimes in the forecast in the Phoenix area throughout the summer, rain delays are something that MLB cannot afford in a truncated season. Playing in locations like the new Globe Life Park, Chase Field and Tropicana Field offer a roof to prevent rain-outs.

Splitting games between Arizona, Texas and Florida would also allow for the established divisions to maintain themselves. USA Today mentioned that a plan designed around establishing the Grapefruit League and Cactus League could result in the Reds realigning in a division with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox.

A grouping of 10 teams playing in Arlington could allow Cincinnati to maintain its standing in the NL Central and those teams could play interleague contests with teams from the AL Central. It many not be baseball as we want to see it, but any baseball at all would likely be welcomed at this time.