MLB signals it’s planning changes
Major League Baseball intends to give the players’ association the required one-year advance notice that could allow management to unilaterally change the strike zone, install pitch clocks and limit trips to the pitcher’s mound starting in 2018.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Tuesday after union head Tony Clark said last weekend he did not foresee players agreeing to proposed changes for 2017. Under baseball’s labor contract, management can alter playing rules only with agreement from the union — unless it gives one-year notice. With the one year of notice, management can make changes on its own.
Manfred said he will send a letter to the union and plans to continue dialogue with Clark and others in hopes of reaching agreement.
“Unfortunately, it now appears that there really won’t be any meaningful change for the 2017 season due to a lack of cooperation from the MLBPA,” Manfred said at a news conference. “I’ve tried to be clear that our game is fundamentally sound, that it does not need to be fixed as some people have suggested, and I think last season was the kind of demonstration of the potential of our league to captivate the nation and of the game’s unique place in American culture.” Yet, he added: “I believe it’s a mistake to stick our head in the sand and ignore the fact that our game has changed and continues to change.”
Clark saw talks differently. “Unless your definition of ‘cooperation’ is blanket approval, I don’t agree that we’ve failed to cooperate with the commissioner’s office on these issues,” he told the Associated Press.
He said that “fundamental changes to the game are going to be an uphill battle, but the lines of communication should remain open.”
Clark added that “my understanding is that MLB wants to continue with the replay changes [two-minute limit] and the no-pitch intentional walks and the pace of game warning/ fine adjustments.”
Manfred said he didn’t want to share specifics of possible changes.
After waiting and waiting to find a free-agent deal, four-time All-Star catcher Matt Wieters found a match with the Washington Nationals. Wieters and the Nationals agreed on a $10.5-million contract for 2017, pending a physical, according to a person familiar with the deal. The contract includes a player option for 2018 worth another $10.5 million, the person said.
Wieters has played his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles. The defending NL East champion Nationals had opened spring training with Derek Norris, who batted .186 for the San Diego Padres last season, projected as their starting catcher.