Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have spent the winter negotiating over rules changes while publicly bickering over the operation of the player market. The sides now appear to be nearing agreement on a package of new rules, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link), though it’s not likely to address the broader concerns.
According to Rosenthal, a new deal may only be a day or two away from completion. It’s not clear just what’ll be covered by the pact, though we’ve known of the areas under consideration for the past week or so. From a hot stove perspective, the application of a single trade deadline and roster size modifications (26-man roster with two extra openings in September) appear to be the most important possible tweaks under contemplation.
There are some much more consequential possibilities that the union would also like to discuss, given its frustrations with the transactional landscape. Those conversations would occur during the season to come, per Rosenthal’s prior reporting, with at least some possibility of a CBA renegotiation and extension.
Meanwhile, the league has announced a new deal with the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. The MLBPA has ratified the pact, which will govern the movement of players from Mexico’s top league to MLB organizations.
Players who have deals with LMB clubs will be free to go to the majors without compensation once they reach 25 years of age and have accumulated six seasons of professional ball. To acquire a LMB player who hasn’t yet reached that status, MLB teams will need to work out a contract with the player and convince his former team to accept a release fee — 15% of guaranteed MLB money or 35% of a signing bonus on a minors deal — to cede its control over the player’s services.
Breaking news: news will be broken in the next day or two!
(I’m sorry, I’m sorry…)
Ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking!!! Guess there is absolutely nothing else to print today!! Ha!
The roster and deadline moves are fine. Happy they adapted the sensible rules of the bunch.
26 players with no sublimit on number of pitchers will partially take away the pitch clock benefit. Pitchers need to learn to pitch instead of overthrowing. Ten man staff was norm years ago and players will adjust if they have to. Max 11 pitchers but allow a 12th on a doubleheader day. Also allow the shift and reward batters who learn how to beat it. Finally, force teams to challenge a play within 15 seconds of it concluding without the benefit of replays. Those together with a pitching clock will speed up the game.
really, 26 withought a limit on pitchers is not gonna help there most likely, but at least it will help big league teams retain options better, and will allow for better bench strategy that goes along with the pre-existing bullpen strategy. Id like a limit on dedicated pitchers as well, in stead of limiting the September rosters to the dis-service of younger players, but adding another roster spot will probably only add relievers on about a dozen of the teams, given a lot already carry, or may soon start to carry, an extra picher as the 25th man.
maybe for AL teams but for NL, you may see more defense/ offense only bench bats to accommodate double switches. often bench bats are sacrificed for bullpen guys.
Pitch clocking coming
I hate the pitch clock. I like that the game isnt dictated by time. It’s a unique characteristic of the sport. Even if they wish to make the game shorter, doing this will make a negligible difference in overall time of game. Bolder rule changes, hopefully ones that dont include clocks, will have to be made to truly change the perception of baseball by average sports fans.
they don’t want the game shorter. real reason is so they can stick more commericals in. Game legnth will always be same time, just with a lot more commericals. Just more money they can pocket that won’t go to players trying to win championships. This commisioner has to go.
I’ll agree that commercials likely play a part. It just seems that they’re trying to broaden the games appeal by addressing the typical criticisms. I dont agree that they should, but it does seem that way to me at least
Having been to a bunch of AAA games over the last few years, you literally never notice the pitch clock as a fan.
The slow pitchers just adapt and most of them aren’t really effected by it at all.
I’ve been to AAA games as well. I found it distracting. Much like the play clock in football, I found myself watching to see if the pitcher was starting the windup before time expired. Worst case scenario is having a pitch clock violation change the outcome of a post season game. Seems like a debacle waiting to happen
Honestly, seems like the problem is more showing the pitch clock than having it.
Personally I think baseball trying to limit dead time is a good thing. I love the sport, but it can understand why it would be hard to get into if you find yourself watching a pitcher pace around for 30 seconds between each pitch.
there is nothing wrong with the pitch clock, i am way more in favor of that than a minimum number of batters per pitcher
What do you mean,they had last year?Don’t make something out of nothing,like the our Propaganda/Media
a154454 …………..
“Pitch clocking coming” Not for a few years I would wager.
If you hit the runner with the ball while he’s trying to score from third he’s out.
Kick ball rules!!
pitcher’s poison!
Would add too much injury time to Manfred’s magical clock.
i wouldn’t sign or agree to anything unless MLB fixes the controling a player for 12+ years (minors + majors) before they get paid anything. SAD what they do to these players.
Avg mlb service time is around 5 years? gee i wonder why…what a coincidence its right before FA.
This commissioner is ruining the game. the MLBAM deal with disney will end up killing baseball. Short term income for long term ramifications. NBA grew 25% in revenue this past year…while .these guys running the MLB are just trying to keep it afloat. Time for a change at the top.
They are wanting to shorten the game with pitch clocks etc so they can throw more commericials in, thats the real reason they want the game shorter. Don’t be fooled. Game will always be over 3 hours….just with more commericials.
the guru……….
“i wouldn’t sign or agree to anything unless MLB fixes the controling a player for 12+ years (minors + majors) before they get paid anything. ”
You will be waiting a while. Service time is a CBA thing, not a rule change and the CBA runs through 2021
exactly….i’d wait until then. We’ve been playing this game for over 100 years. The comisioner/owners puppet will be ok waiting a few more before we change anything.
8 rules were changed/amended prior to 2018. How many did you notice?
Rules can be and sometimes are changed prior to each season. Holding such things hostage until the end of the CBA is a bit childish.
So you wouldn’t do anything to help players until the CBA is expired? Oh brother.
control over a player length shouldn’t matter, what should is how much to pay. every player should be arb eligible in the 2nd year of service, and that is the beginning of the second season in which they appear, not service time
They should modify the club control years as follows: a player drafted at age 21 has 7 years of overall team control, a player drafted at age 20 has 8 years of overall team control, a player drafted at age 19 has 9 years of overall team control and, a player drafted at age 18 or under has 10 years of overall team control.
Note that overall team control includes both minor league and major league time. It is the total amount of control a team has overall, regardless of where that person plays. For example, if a player drafted at age 21 spends 3 years in the minors developing before being called up, then he’ll have 4 years in the majors under team control. This type of rule change would encourage teams to call up players as soon as they’re ready, since the longer they spend in the minors, means the less time the team has control over them in the majors.
Or it could mean rushing a player, and ruining their career, and earnings.
No team rushes players anymore. They would rather have them spend meaningless time in the minors just so the teams can keep them at a cheaper salary for longer. That’s why Guerrero, Tatis and Jimenez among others will not make a major league roster until May.
This commish is doing a fine job.
hey everybody, its Henny Penny!
Can’t wait to see what they came up with. Certainly will start some arguments no matter what they do. I wonder what the players get for ceding 12 September roster spots? Would MLB agree to universal DH or do they have to negotiate new CBA first? What about shifts?
Is the designated hitter for the National League a dead horse?? Hope so. I enjoy National League strategy. Except when Mathaney was in St. Louis! Lol
me too, i love how there is 2 different leagues with different rules. this dumb commisioner wants one league so he can have more control.
Do you not understand the Commissioner is now, and for over 100 years, been in charge of BOTH leagues?
Yes because the commissioner of Major League Baseball does not have control over the national league… did you even think before posting that comment?
That’ll be a chip for the owners in collective bargaining to present to the players as a concession to “sweeten the pot” when the time comes.
Surely they’ll discuss the concept that bat only free agents will have more teams vying for their services if they institute the NL DH. Will the owners and players feel sentimental about the difference in leagues when they get down to dollars? I dont think so
I think it’s a dead horse for this season but I think it will eventually happen (which is sad)
Cardinals17
“Is the designated hitter for the National League a dead horse??”
There is one slight difference to the way the DH rule is spelled out as opposed to others………….
5.11 Designated Hitter Rule
Any League may elect to use Rule 5.11(a), which shall be called
the Designated Hitter Rule.
mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Officia…
Just as it was when the AL adopted the DH for that league, it will come down to a vote of NL owners and I am sure there will be push back from many NL fans.
(side note…The Athletic polled players last year on various things 53%+ said no to the DH in the NL while almost 90% said no to the pitch clock)
I think TB could wind up in the NL. They want out of the AL East and with them picking two way players, the NL would make it easier to get more use out of McKay etc…
Then they need 2 expansion teams to make that happen. I’d adopt the East/West division with 8 teams each. Play in-division 14 times and the other 8 teams 8 times. That equals 162 games, and Tampa can be moved to the NL if the opening arises.
Nothing better then watching pitchers look silly swinging at something that they can’t do at all on any level of baseball.
I for one would like to see the ball on a string like in blernsball.
I’m surprised that this is coming to pass before a new CBA could be negotiated but that said, I’m glad they’re apparently expanding rosters to 26 players!
That said, I’d actually like the rosters expanded to 27 players with that last spot going to a Rule5 draftee who gets a chance after stagnating in a particular organization and who maybe could be the next Brad Keller or Odubel Herrera.
Or if you can’t find a diamond in the rough like that, possibly a player who has some kind of specialized skill like abnormal speed on the basepaths or a young defensively skilled catcher who’s bat isn’t ready or maybe even a versatile defender like what Ray Patrick Dittier exhibited while being eligible in this past December’s Rule5 which again, helps break up organizational logjams & get some kind of competitive edge with a player who might not have the overall game quite yet but who’s particular skill set could be an advantage that benefits said team a few games a year…
Just my two schillin’s
Like the idea of 27 man roster then September you can expand to 40 with only 30 available a day for the game. zip also wouldn’t mind seeing one trade dead line and add a rule 5 pick again at end of spring training, once all the teams get to scout the players in person. Then go ahead and add 2 more expansion teams by 2021, one in Toronto and one in maybe Vancouver or Oklahoma city. If you wanna save time start with running commercials down in a corner box .
I agree with much of this and though it’s not divisionally equal, I’d actually like l to see 4 new expansion teams for that I think there’s a need for another team in the Pacific Northwest like Portland or Vancouver, as well as another in the Mountain Time Zone for example El Paso-Juárez, the Mid-South/Ohio Valley like Louisville, & I think Montreal deserves another crack which would be the team in the east.
So you want a city to draw less fans than Tampa and Oakland like Montreal? Have you forgotten history?
Plenty of US cities more deserving. As a Canadian I’d say Vancouver is more deserving than Montreal.
I’m not sure why the Union would agree to go to 28 man roster in September. Aren’t they giving up potential service time? Is it in return for a regular 26 man?
I dont think that September counts as service time for some reason. Maybe the three spots now will.
A 26 man roster would benefit the guys currently unsigned. The Denard Spans or AJ Ramos type guys. Last year, a Jose Bautista would have signed earlier.
26th roster spot for a July 31 deadline seems reasonable.
The union gets more players on the roster because executives became really good at working around the roster rules.
The Mexico agreement turns Mexico into Colombia, except Colombia with a valid major league.
MLB and MLBPA should sit on their hands and do nothing.
What do we have to do to get this POS fired???
You and your like-minded friends will have to own the majority of the MLB teams.
Haha more of a rhetorical question. But I do think enough unhappy fans banding together not spending their money once inside the park could do it.
If you spend money to get inside the park, haven’t they already won?
Regardless of what job it is, the union and owners will always have their differences. “I don’t get paid enough and this isn’t fair because…”. While the owners try to implement changes that will better benefit them financially. I’m glad MLBTR keeps us well informed on these issues
If the dh comes to nl just put the pitcher as the dh
Omg Oma 26 man roster instead of 25. Huge change. Why not make it 28. And make it optional for up to 28 players.
Problem with baseball losing its fans have nothing to do with time. The problem is teams have out priced the blue collar worker who would like to take his kids to a game more than once a year. The live experience of going to the ballpark is what sellls kids on being lifelong fans. Owners want ppl in their ballparks that pay little attention to the actual game and just want to be there eating & drinking and spending money as part of an event. Owners want there blue collar fans who can’t afford the food, drinks or soveniers to stay home & watch the games on tv to boost ratings to charge more for advertising. Little do they know that those kids they are alienating now won’t be there 20-15 years from now either.
I have been agreeing to that for years. Half the seats are empty at most parks every game. The League needs to require teams to average 75% capacity. Teams would have to lower ticket prices, but would sell more concessions. Where’s the spirit of Bill Veeck?
I like the 26th man on the roster and although I am a traditionalist the DH should come to the NL. It will give the fans the ability to see some of their favorite players possibly a little longer with their favorite teams. I would have loved for Chipper to have played another year or 2 hitting & not having to worry bout playing the field.
Where I used to like the strategy of having the pitcher hitting but having my favorite players being able to hold on a little longer than they may have without it would trump that
I’d really like an explanation of what is meant by one trade deadline. I’m assuming it’s being used as a shorthand for combining the July 31st and August 31st deadlines but since the August deadline isn’t a trade deadline that leaves questions unanswered.
Is the rule just moving the deadline to be eligible for the postseason up to July 31st? Is that the whole rule or are they proposing doing away with waiver trades all together?
Does 2 additional Sept roster spots mean in addition to the proposed 26 man roster? Which I love the 26 man roster. It always seemed like we could use 1 more roster spot! Or does it mean 2 more to make it 42 in Sept? 40 seems like plenty. But 28 is well shy of the 40 that teams can use now. It Should be at least 30 in September. And one trade deadline August 15thish
Curious of expanded roster would be a tool to continue to diminish the value of starting pitchers. Expanding rosters allows for more relievers, thus more innings for the bullpen. Since fewer innings for starting pitchers (a trend that has accelerated with analytics), why the need to pay starters $$$ when innings and value stats will decrease. More contracts for owners (27 or 28) with less total $. Maybe agents and players should be careful what they wish for.
Just a thought.
The pitch clock is definitely needed. It will come in due time because Baseball will severely decline if that or something relevant to the ball and strike count is not instituted.