would promotion-relegation work in baseball?

Question

Who thinks that relegation could work in baseball?
I think it could because of the vast minor league system that exists in baseball. What do you think?

Promotion-Relegation definition-In many sports leagues around the world (with North American and Australian professional leagues being the most notable exceptions), relegation (or demotion) means the mandated transfer of the least successful team(s) of a higher division into a lower division at the end of the season. This is usually accompanied by the most successful team(s) from the lower division enjoying the opposite procedure, promotion. (source:wikipedia)

Answer 1

It would not work here. I am actually a fan of the system and baseball has "kindof" the structure in place but there are several reasons it would not work.



1) There is virtually no history in the U.S. of promotion and relegation.

2) Owners would not want to invest as much here if there is a chance a team could be relegated.

3) from what I've observed of the English soccer system, many times a team will go almost bankrupt to get promoted just to spend one or maybe two years near the bottom and get relegated again.



BUT, like I said, I AM actually a fan of the system believe it or not. I just can't see it happening here in the near future.



Plus another reason, as someone else alluded to, in regards to baseball is it's kindof different because the teams are affiliates. For baseball to have promotion and relegation all affiliations would end, although it would be fun to have the possibility of a team like say the Springfield Redbirds or the Tulsa Drillers win the world series!

Answer 2

I don't think it would work. Teams in the lower leagues are designated as affiliates to MLB teams. So, let's say you were to send two MLB teams at the end of the season down to Triple-A baseball, and bring two teams up to the MLB. Teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox could have their team and their affiliate in MLB at the same time, and then they could essentially swap players between the teams and rig the game a little bit.



It might have a chance in leagues below MLB if there were no affiliations to major league teams, but while it has those, there would be no chance of promotion-regulation working. As for MLB, there is no way that the teams would approve of a system where they could be sent down to lower leagues each year.

Answer 3

it doesn't sound like it will fly here sorry