A deal is near between Major League Baseball and the Players Association that would allow active rosters to expand by one to 26 by the 2020 season according to the Associated Press. The deal would also include a commitment from both sides to discuss larger economic issues this year after Opening Day.

As part of the agreement, there will be a maximum of 13 pitchers allowed on the roster until rosters expand on September 1. Both the 26 man roster and the pitcher limit would be in place during the post-season as well.

Also as part of the deal, rosters would be reduced after September 1 from 40 players to only 28. A 14th pitcher will be allowed. This is part of baseball commissioner’s Rob Manfred pace-of-play initiative he has sought since he took office in 2015, not allowing a nearly endless line of pitchers to be on the roster and coming into games after September 1, slowing the game down. It will also give more position players a chance to be called up due to the limitations placed on the number of pitchers. This will give the regulars more of an opportunity to rest, at least that is the plan.

The economic issues to be discussed after Opening Day include expanding the designated hitter to the National League and changing the amateur draft to discourage teams from releasing veteran players during the season for rebuilding purposes. The Players Association is keen on these changes because it feels there has been two consecutive years of a slow free-agent market and they want appropriate alterations to be made.

Larger modifications could be on the horizon when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at the end of the 2021 season. The Associates Press reports that management is willing to discuss these revisions for long term stability and the avoidance of a possible work stoppage. There has not been a strike in baseball since August of 1994.

These possible future changes that would be part of an agreement between the two sides include:

  • an increase in the regular injured list for pitchers and the minimum option recall time for pitchers be changed from 10 to 15 days beginning in the 2020 season.
  • if the All-Star game goes to extra innings, placing a runner at second to start the inning.
  • giving Major League Baseball the right to shorten the interval between innings.

Manfred has been reluctant to make any changes to the pace of play without the consent of the Players Association. There will be no pitch clock until the 2021 season at the earliest. It is also unlikely that there will be a three hitter minimum that each new pitcher must face. The Players Association planned to reject that plan, and even though Manfred has the authority to institute it unilaterally for the 2020 season, his desire to gain approval from the PA first may stall that initiative much the same as the pitch clock.

A 26th player to a team’s roster is not new. It has been allowed for some day-night doubleheaders. The expansion of a squad to 40 players has drawn complaints as teams can ‘customize’ their extra players based on the team they are facing. It also brings the possibility of unequal-squads to a game if a team can’t totally fill its roster.

Many baseball experts are already predicting a strike after the CBA expires in 2021. The fact that there are still so many unsigned quality free agents is not helping matters. It appears the two sides have some made progress on some issues such as roster size, but the bigger picture remains unclear. It is hoped that by the time the smoke clears some of the bigger issues facing baseball will be resolved to avoid a work stoppage that nobody wants.