MLB Rule Change Cheat Sheet
Here's a quick look at the rule changes that MLB and the Players Association have agreed to for this season and 2020, pending (expected) approval from the 30 clubs.
Starting in the 2019 Season:
A HARD July 31 trade deadline. No trades will be permitted after this date. Teams can still waive players, but trade waivers will be eliminated.
A reduction from six mound visits to five per game.
An All-Star "election day," to complement the existing round of All-Star voting: the three leaders in each category, at the end of the traditional voting period, will have a one-day runoff during which fans can choose their favorite of those still in the race.
A $1 MILLION pot for the HR Derby winner to "attract" the most talented players to participate. Another $1.5 million will be divided amongst the runners-up.
If the ASG goes past nine innings, all extra innings will start with a runner on second.
Shortened breaks, and less commercials. Breaks during innings (ie, while a team changes pitchers) will be dropped down to 2 minutes (down from 2:05 in local broadcasts and 2:20 in national ones).
Less fun. Position players will not be allowed to take the mound unless a game is in extra innings or a team has an 8+ run lead.
The DL is being remained the "injured list."
No official word, but it appears that the pitch clock experiment was a failure and will not be implemented. Update: this is official!
Starting in 2020:
A three-batter minimum for all pitchers.
The roster will expand from 25 players to 26, with a 13 pitcher maximum.
The 40-man roster will be eliminated. Every team will be mandated to add two players in September, bringing the fall roster size to 28, with a 14 pitcher maximum.
Minimum time on the injured list will be raised back up to 15 games from 10.
Possible, Unconfirmed Changes for 2020 and beyond:
A further reduction to mound visits, with only four permitted per game.
A renegotiation and extension of the current collective bargaining agreement beyond 2021, hopefully averting a strike.
Dramatic changes to back-end policies, including attempts to energize the free agent market and actions to prevent teams from manipulating service time delays by holding back top prospects.
Though not exhaustive, this list should give you an idea of the biggest changes to expect this season and beyond! If it helped clarify the news for you, give it a boost to help others understand, too.
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