Major League Baseball has proposed more changes to the Major League Baseball Players Association as part of the ongoing ramp-up to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.

Offseason Changes

Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, Major League Baseball has proposed to make “drastic changes” to the MLB offseason.

The main change would limit the window in which free agents can sign. In the current system, players have the freedom to choose when they want to sign with a team, but MLB looks to limit that to a two- to three-week window each offseason from the first day of the winter meetings until December 21. From December 21 until the first Monday in February, no free agent would be able to sign with a team.

This deadline would put pressure on players to sign for the best deal available at the time instead of waiting for the best deal for themselves, shifting significant leverage into the hands of the teams. The MLBPA is expected to reject this.

Trades would also be limited to this window as well.

Roster Limits

Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Major League Baseball also wants to limit roster churn. Their argument is that they want to restore “traditional full-time Major League roles for players” and that this would create more fan engagement.

Teams would be required to set weekly rosters each Monday following similar rules to how the postseason treats rosters. Teams would only be able to make roster moves between the end of their game on Sunday and the afternoon of the next day. Exceptions would be made for injuries, bereavement, maternity, trades, and waiver claims.

Teams would be limited to 13 pitchers instead of 14 on their active roster.

The injured list would be changed to one week for position players and two weeks for pitchers. The 60-day injured list would be replaced with a 12-week minimum.

Options would also change to a one-week minimum for position players and two weeks for pitchers. Teams would also be limited to four call ups/send downs per option instead of five.

MLBPA interim director Bruce Meyer responded to the league’s proposal, stating that it would be harmful to players.

“The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier Free Agent signings is with a salary cap is entirely unserious,” Meyer said. “Players have proposed changes that would address these priorities, but the league is not interested in any changes that don’t directly reduce the rights of all players and shift leverage to the owners.”

Rule Five Draft

MLB is proposing moving Rule Five eligibility up by one year, making players drafted or signed younger than 20 years old eligible after four years instead of five and players older than 20 eligible after three years instead of four.

Players selected in the rule five draft would no longer be required to stay on the major league roster and could be optioned, but they must remain on the 40-man roster all season to be retained.