Clark anticipates there will be conversations about issues such as tanking and service-time manipulationGETTY IMAGES
MLB and the MLBPA's "willingness to talk about fundamental questions such as free agency, service-time manipulation of talented young players, and tanking represents a landmark event" after appearing to be on a "collision course that might well end in a work stoppage," according to Alex Speier of the BOSTON GLOBE. MLPBA Exec Dir Tony Clark "expressed some hope" about what Thursday's rule change agreement means "moving forward." He said, "Having the conversation now, ahead of 2021, gives us a chance that I remain cautiously optimistic on to address those things before the expiration of this CBA. ... The common ground that we were able to find here has cracked open a door to a broader conversation, and that broader conversation we believe is necessary and in the best interest of both parties." Speier notes moving forward, Clark "anticipates there will be conversations" between MLB and the union about "issues such as tanking and service-time manipulation" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/15). MLB Deputy Commissioner & Chief Legal Officer/Baseball Administration Dan Halem said of the upcoming CBA negotiations, "It remains to be seen what the union's going to ask for, what we're going to ask for and whether we reach an agreement. It's a positive sign we were able to reach an agreement with the union on rule changes and hopefully we can build on that" (AP, 3/14).
GOOD FIRST STEP: In Tampa, Marc Topkin writes the fact that MLB and the MLBPA "could agree, given their cantankerous relationship and antagonistic attitudes, made Thursday's joint announcement" of rule changes in the "midst of the current labor agreement a significant development." Rays 3B and player rep Matt Duffy said it was a "good first step" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/15). Duffy said, "It's just good to see both sides are working together. It's good when you have cooperation on both sides of an industry. I think that creates a healthy atmosphere for the industry and the game to thrive" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/15). In San Diego, Kevin Acee writes agreements like this one are essentially "olive branches between the sides." Eliminating the August waiver-trade period is "seen by the MLBPA as a way to spur offseason moves, which have stalled in recent seasons" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/15).
CHANGING THE GAME: In Milwaukee, Tom Haudricourt notes one of the significant changes approved for the '20 season "involves the size of rosters, which will expand from 25 players to 26 over the first five months." The limit will then move to 28 players in September, "instead of allowing teams to expand to 40 players." Some are "calling that change the 'Doug Melvin Rule," because of how the former Brewers GM "campaigned for years to stop playing important games with teams using vastly different rosters, depending on how many September call-ups they had." Melvin said, "It was the only sport where the playing field was uneven in the final month. It was just so unfair" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, 3/15). In Cleveland, Paul Hoynes writes a single trade deadline on July 31 will "separate the good from the bad faster." If MLB wanted to "draw more attention to the July 31 deadline, they've done it." In creating a "trading frenzy, however, mistakes that can ruin a season can happen." Hoynes: "What's so bad about being able to take a second swing at a problem?" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/15).
NO DAMAGE DONE: SPORTSNET.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith wrote the changes at first glance "don't threaten the integrity of baseball's tradition." By reducing the time between innings and "further limiting mound visits, for example, MLB will increase pace of play so slightly that few observers would have noticed if the league had made these changes unannounced" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/14). In Cincinnati, Bobby Nightengale writes it appears the "goal of these rule changes is to help the sport's pace of play, an important initiative" to Commissioner Rob Manfred. The three-batter minimum for pitchers "could translate into fewer pitching changes throughout games" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/15). However, the AP's Tim Dahlberg wrote these changes "don't do much of anything to make the game better" this year. If anything, they are Manfred's "way to show that he's trying to do something -- anything, really -- to keep baseball from growing too stale" (AP, 3/15).
