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MLB Considering Changes To Roster Expansion

By Zachary Links | September 4, 2012 at 7:46pm CDT

Commissioner Bud Selig's special committee for on-field issues has talking about late-season roster expansion at length and there is increasing momentum to change the rules by next season, multiple industry sources have told Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.  The current plan would still allow teams to expand rosters in the final month of the season but would require clubs to designate which players are eligible before each game.

The most popular scenario being discussed is to expand September rosters to 30, with each club's 25-man roster on August 31 being locked in throughout September.  Locking in the rosters at the end of August would prevent teams from de-activating the starters not pitching in a particular game in order to load up with four additional minor leaguers. 

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly have both spoken out in favor of changes to the September roster rules.  Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who is a member of Selig's committee, said that tweaking the rules would make sense "for a number of reasons".

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57 Comments

  1. grant77

    13 years ago

    I wonder what the players union will have to say about this.

    Reply
    • petrie000

      13 years ago

      “The salaries don’t change, right? okay then, knock yourselves out”

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        13 years ago

        i’m not saying they should object, but the answer to that question is “wrong”. roster size/expansion directly impacts service time, which directly impacts salaries

        Reply
      • Patrick OKennedy

        13 years ago

        Salaries do change when a player is called up to the majors.

        Reply
  2. EdinsonPickle

    13 years ago

    How long has this current set up of expanding the rosters to 40 been active? I’m curious.

    I’m definitely in favor of changing the roster expansion in some way. I’m not sure what way would be best, but that suggested idea of locking in rosters sounds pretty good right now.

    Reply
  3. mgsports

    13 years ago

    Have Unlimited Number all Season and no Trade Dead Line Date.

    Reply
    • Daniel Miller

      13 years ago

      how about players can play for multiple teams as well? Or maybe pitchers can re-enter the game as many times as their manager likes? or you could just pick one hitter to hit as many times as he wants?

      Reply
      • andyr

        13 years ago

        Ryan Braun could be the designated hitter and bat every time. And when he gets on, Carlos Gomez runs every time.

        Reply
      • rainyperez

        13 years ago

        I wonder what a team would do if Bonds was able to hit every single time?

        Reply
  4. rainyperez

    13 years ago

    How about expanding the roster for the regular season? Obviously not to a 40 man but adding like a player or two to the 25 man roster could be good. NL could really benefit from this with their double switches and adding additional rest for players as well.

    Reply
    • andyr

      13 years ago

      Or just for the NL would make me happy.

      Reply
  5. mu_Zak

    13 years ago

    The most often player/manager complaint is that the rosters should allow at least 27 players at all times. This keeps teams from having to use the DL when a player is only out for less than a week, and allows a P to easily skip a start. This would ease the transition to Sept callups and likely keep the majority of players playing the same.

    Reply
    • jill

      13 years ago

      Why not have a 7 day DL in addition to the 15 DL and the 60 day DL?

      There are plenty of injuries that aren’t severe, but you can’t really play with for a few days or a week. Brandon Phillips had a couple like that this year. So did Scott Rolen.

      Players that have concussions can go on the 7 day. I think they can allow the less injured sit out for a week.

      Reply
      • crise

        13 years ago

        This makes sense. Most of the time 25 is fine. it’s just when a team is on a bad road trip, gets blown out and trashes the pen, or has a couple of lingering injuries that expanded rosters are brought up. The Twins don’t have a deep bench and are very hesitant to put guys out for two weeks, but they end up with some absurd lineups as a result. Fans would rather see a decent game than find out how a manager is going to get by with 23 for four days.

        Reply
        • mu_Zak

          13 years ago

          Right, that is the point. But it’s also that teams will rarely use more than 27 players, so if they’re already there there’s no real change in September.

          Reply
      • Marc Rigby

        13 years ago

        this is a good idea. no more short benches when player is day to day

        Reply
  6. itsmewade

    13 years ago

    Mr. Selig,

    Can you also make a decision in regards to the A’s stadium situation. I think it is fair that the A’s are given an answer in a reasonable time, and that deadline was two years ago. Even if you decide not to allow the A’s to move to San Jose, I think a decision must be made. Then, the A’s know what direction they need to go and A’s fans won’t be frustrated with new rules being discussed about and decided upon within a months time.

    Sincerely,
    Frustrated A’s fans

    Reply
    • start_wearing_purple

      13 years ago

      You see, that would require Selig to actually make a decision on a tough choice. The commissioner’s job is supposed to have absolute power to keep order through the league… Selig has been a mouse, afraid to do anything.

      Reply
    • Patrick OKennedy

      13 years ago

      This is off topic, but the problem here stems from the territorial rights that were given to the Giants in the San Jose area. It’s a bit ironic that, if the A’s were to move to San Jose, the Giants would have the closest ballpark to the City of Oakland and the entire east bay. It’s just a big game of billionaire monopoly.

      Reply
    • jiml60

      13 years ago

      Ask Jerry Reinsdorf, Bud is only the puppet.

      Reply
    • Bob Hulsey

      13 years ago

      Be careful what you wish for. You might have your team forced into the AL West against their will just to get some otherwise normal business process approved.

      Sincerely,
      Frustrated Astros fans

      Reply
      • itsmewade

        13 years ago

        Haha, I hear you. At this point, I’d be happy with a move to North Carolina and an AL East spot.

        Reply
  7. fireboss

    13 years ago

    If Fredi Gonzalez thinks it’s a good idea then we most certainly shouldn’t do it.

    Reply
  8. gvahut

    13 years ago

    How about 26 players during the April-August time period, and designate one inactive player each day (the next day’s starting pitcher for example). That would give a little more flexibility and not be quite so limiting on position players on the bench.

    Reply
    • Crucisnh

      13 years ago

      Probably the previous day’s starting pitcher is more likely… 😉

      Reply
      • gvahut

        13 years ago

        that’s what I meant to say. Duh.

        Reply
  9. MeowMeow

    13 years ago

    Yes yes yes please this. I hate watching pitching changes for every batter to keep playing matchups in September. A few extra guys is okay (fatigue and whatnot; getting looks at prospects), but they should be playing the same game in September they were playing in May.

    Reply
    • Trout Almonte

      13 years ago

      Indeed, kinda annoying keeping scores with like 20 pitching changes. It’s like they say, “You can’t win a division in April, but you can certainly lose one.”

      Reply
  10. tdw815

    13 years ago

    Make the rosters 26 from April to August and 30 for September. also they should play at least 3 day-night double headers on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and on those days they can expand the roster to 30

    Reply
    • Marc Rigby

      13 years ago

      i like the doubleheader part n also let the reds play the first game each year like days of old.

      Reply
  11. kaakun

    13 years ago

    is this really that big of an issue? when is the last time a team has added more than a handful of players after sept 1? Its not like half of AAA is on a plane/bus to the big leagues once rosters expand.

    Reply
    • truthlemonade

      13 years ago

      exactly. When was the last time a team called up even as many as 8 players? what is the average number of callups? what is the fewest of the past 10 years? Most?

      Reply
  12. chrisrg

    13 years ago

    Why fix what isn’t broken (What’s wrong with adding a players in September?) instead of fixing what is broken (lack of roster flexibility until the regular season)? Seems like a typical Bud Selig non-solution to a non-problem while the elephant in the room is never touched.

    Reply
    • mu_Zak

      13 years ago

      Jim Leeland contends that there’s too great of a difference with the large # of callups available.

      Reply
      • chrisrg

        13 years ago

        The rules are the same for the Tigers as they are for anyone else though….they’re entitled to call up as many players as any other team.

        Reply
        • mu_Zak

          13 years ago

          Just about all players and managers would agree to expanding the regular season roster though and there’s movement behind that.

          Reply
          • chrisrg

            13 years ago

            I would agree there. I just see no valid reason to limit September callups.

            Reply
            • mu_Zak

              13 years ago

              Expanding the regular season roster would basically make Sept callups moot. With 27 players teams would already have the theoretical 1 extra P/position player you would really want to have. Those players would get the lion’s share of time even in Sept so it would limit the number of unseen players for any opponent.

              Reply
  13. Matt Miller

    13 years ago

    When is MLB going to consider an expansion DRAFT? Vegas, Mexico City, Nashville, Portland…let’s get more teams.

    Reply
    • letsgogiants

      13 years ago

      Is 30 teams not enough?

      Reply
  14. Brent Lafond 2

    13 years ago

    If the A’s stay do they still build a new stadium? The plans for Cisco Field are beautiful an would be one of the nicest ball parks in baseball, probally top 10. Would the Cisco Field plans just now happen in OAK?

    Reply
    • letsgogiants

      13 years ago

      Well there was talk that there would be a new stadium in Jack London Square near the bay, just like with the Giants. However, the idea was quickly dead and talks of Fremont popped up (before that plan was abolished as well). However, I remember earlier this year, a group of investors wanted to buy the team and stay in Oakland (no official offer was made, of course), hence bringing up the idea of building a new stadium by the bay, which I think would be the most logical choice. However, Lew Wolff doesn’t appear interested in selling the team, and I don’t see what this franchise is going to do until MLB steps in and does something about the situation.

      Reply
  15. mgsports

    13 years ago

    Orlando and Hawaii for A’s if move.

    Reply
    • Tko11

      13 years ago

      No…Florida has too many teams, Hawaii is too far from mainland USA, imagine a trip from New York to Hawaii and then back the next day. Vegas or Charlotte would be good but they aren’t really moving they just want a new stadium.

      Reply
      • rainyperez

        13 years ago

        MLB wil stay away from Vegas because of the whole gambling thing. I think A’s should go to Sacramento, Portland, or OKC.

        Reply
        • Tko11

          13 years ago

          Id agree with OKC, it seems like a great city with good fans from what I can tell watching Thunder games.

          Reply
  16. JohnW

    13 years ago

    “The most popular scenario being discussed is to expand September rosters
    to 30, with each club’s 25-man roster on August 31 being locked in
    throughout September.”

    Aren’t some minor league games played after August 31? Do these teams just forfeit if the majority of their roster goes to the major leagues because of this change?

    Reply
    • User 4245925809

      13 years ago

      The 25 man roster on 8/31 used to be locked in previously regardless and was changed. It was only changed for good reason.. Severe injuries to players, like Jim Rice in 1975 who was hit in the wrist and it was fractured by a guy who was awful anyway (vern Ruhle) and missed the entire post season and the team had to play the play offs and WS with a 24 man roster. there are other examples of this.

      Teams abused the privilege and it’s why there will be changes. catastrophic injuries.. Fractured wrist, concussion (can’t recall who it was) players should be allowed to be replaced, but not guys like Tim Wakefield, who people like Francona just don’t want on the PO roster and invent issues with.

      Reply
  17. T-Bone

    13 years ago

    Sounds like these managers and Selig don’t want teams with loaded farm teams to be able to keep all of their talent. September call-ups allow teams to save players from the Rule 5 draft. I know with my team (Royals) they probably won’t even call up the AAA player of the year Wil Meyers this September, because in doing so they would be taking up a spot on the roster that could be used to save another minor league player they want to continue to develop. I understand were these managers are coming from; maybe we are hoarding some of the young talent. However, I also believe that since some of these small market teams have been investing heavily over the past 4-5 years to build these minor league teams with talent, it shouldn’t just be stripped away from them.

    Reply
  18. AnDrew F Dubler

    13 years ago

    Read a comment somewhere of a roster for 29 with the four bench sitting starters being mark as inactive for the game for September, but I like that idea for the whole year.

    Reply
  19. Bobby Sweet

    13 years ago

    Personally, I’d rather see September call-ups not counting towards a player’s service time. It’s unfair – for everyone, from the team to the fans – that we can’t watch Billy Hamilton steal bases as a pinch runner because they don’t want him to have 0.030 service time.

    Reply

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