MLB considering drastic rule changes in 2019

Major League Baseball and its union have had substantive discussions in recent days over a series of proposals, among the most drastic proposed changes in years, that could bring significant rule changes to the sport in 2019 and beyond, according to two sources familiar with those talks. The discussions have included both on-field rule changes, pushed by Commissioner Rob Manfred, and proposals from the union to improve competitive balance.

According to reports by The Athletic and ESPN, the specific rule-change proposals include:

• The adoption of the designated hitter in the National League, making the DH universal across both leagues.

• A rule requiring pitchers to face a minimum of three batters, except in the case of injury or when finishing an inning.

• A 20-second pitch clock, a timesaving device Manfred has espoused for more than a year now.

• A single trade deadline before the All-star break, to replace the traditional July 31 deadline and the Aug. 31 waiver-trade deadline.

• The expansion of rosters from 25 to 26 players, with a maximum of 12 pitchers.

• A reduction in mound visits from six to five.

• A rule, which would be tested in spring training and the All-star Game, in which each half-inning in extra innings would begin with a runner on second base.

• Tweaks to the draft order to reward winning teams and penalize perennial losing teams.

• A rule that would permit two-sport athletes, such as Kyler Murray, to sign major league contracts as enticement to play baseball.

The proposals remain in preliminary stages, and it is unclear which, if any, would be implemented in 2019.

Many of MLB’S proposals were designed for the purpose of speeding up the game, one of Manfred’s top priorities. The pitch-clock would penalize pitchers or hitters who stall between pitches with a ball or a strike call. The three-batter minimum and the 12-pitcher limit on rosters would both reduce the frequency of pitching changes.