New MLB agreement means Kansas City Royals have greater chance at a playoff berth
Along with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement between the Major League Baseball owners and the Players Association came a bevy of changes that will impact the sports on and off the field.
“I am genuinely thrilled to say Major League Baseball is back and we’re going to play 162 games,’‘ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said during a news conference on Thursday evening. “I want to start by apologizing to our fans. I know the last few months have been difficult.’‘
MLB announced teams will play a full 162-game schedule starting on April 7. The Royals’ first game is April 7 at Kauffman Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians.
Manfred lauded the agreement, and he also touted the reconfigured ability to make rule changes to the game on the field that will benefit the game and its fans.
“I could not be more excited about the future of our game,” Manfred said. “I think we have an opportunity in front of us. I think it’s an opportunity that we need to work with the players to fully cease.
“But I think that some of the things in the agreement are really, really important in that regard. I think the expanded playoff format will bring postseason baseball, and, maybe more importantly, exciting September baseball to more markets.”
The full new CBA has not officially been released, but details of the agreed upon deal have been reported.
Some of the notable rules changes on the horizon:
- Starting in 2023, a committee made of four active players, one umpire and six members appointed by MLB will have the job of adopting rules changes, according to MLB.com. This could lead to new features such as a pitch clock, larger bases, the elimination of defensive shifts and the automated strike zone.
- One new feature this season will be the universal implementation of the designated hitter. National League teams will now play with the DH and pitchers will no longer bat, as has been the case in the American League.
- The playoffs will expand from the current 10-team format to 12 teams. Six teams from the American League and six from the National League will qualify for postseason starting this year. The top two division winners in each league will receive byes to the Division Series, while the other division winner in each league and three Wild Card teams will play three-game series in a new Wild Card Round.
A draft lottery will be established in order to discourage teams from tanking in order to improve draft position.
There will now be a limit on the number of times a player can be optioned to the minors during a season.
Several rules changes that were put in place during the 2020 pandemic season, played without an operating minor-league system, have also been eliminated.
- Doubleheaders will no longer be truncated to seven-inning games. They’ll revert back to full nine-inning games.
- Teams will no longer begin extra innings with a runner on second base.
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 8:17 PM.
