How MLB realignment could screw the Mariners over for years to come

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has hinted that realignment is on the way. That means the Seattle Mariners will likely be paired with a new combination of opponents in their division.

While it could benefit the Mariners to play in a division without the Houston Astros, there are other scenarios that could hurt. Let's take a look at a few.

How realignment could end up hurting the Mariners

Scenario 1: Mariners join a Pacific Coast division that includes Giants, Dodgers, Padres

Splitting up the AL West seems likely if the MLB is serious about cutting down travel and having the divisions make more geographical sense.

In this scenario, Houston and the Texas Rangers would join a Central Division, the Los Angeles Angels and the Athletics would join a Southwest Division, and the Mariners would join the Pacific Coast Division with three NL West teams.

It would certainly cut down on travel without all those plane trips to Texas, but a division that includes the Dodgers and Padres would be a gauntlet. Any team could win that division any year, and the Mariners would probably end up on the outside more often than not.

Scenario 2: Expansion team in Portland joins Mariners' division

This might seem like a good thing, right? An expansion team joining the division surely means a weaker opponent for the Marienrs to beat up on?

Not so fast. MLB expansion teams have had more success than in other leagues. The Arizona Diamondbacks won a World Series just four years after becoming a franchise, while the Miami Marlinswon their first World Series after five seasons.

A Portland expansion team would also rip apart the Mariners' fanbase. Seattle currently has a strong hold on the Oregon market, with most of Oregon identifying as Mariners fans. That could lower attendance, lower merch sales and lower TV ratings. With an owner like John Stanton, less revenue from the Oregon fanbase could lead to less spending in Free Agency.

Scenario 3: MLB axes divisions, goes East/West League

Let's hope this does not happen, but it is always possible the MLB decides to emulate the NBA route and axe the division system entirely. The Mariners could end up in a 16-team Western League, and that probably hurts them.

They'd be grouped with teams like the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Astros, Rangers and Diamondbacks, big-market teams who have demonstrated their willingness to spend big money. Seattle could quickly get lost in the mix of so many teams, and become a middle-of-the-road team constantly battling for attention.