If Major League Baseball is indeed able to begin a season later this summer, teams are expected to be allowed 29-man rosters for the first month of the truncated campaign, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Twitter link).
It’s a sensible temporary solution in light of the fact that clubs wouldn’t be afforded the traditional six-week run-up to the season that Spring Training provides. Permitting all 30 clubs to carry an extra three players — standard roster size was already slated to expand from 25 to 26 this season — will help clubs to manage pitcher workloads early in the year. And, with the expected addition of frequent doubleheaders, an extra player or two on the bench would allow managers to more easily rest regulars who are dealing with minor injuries or simply need a breather.
Whether the league would place any restrictions on the number of pitchers isn’t yet known, but clubs had previously been capped at a maximum of 13 pitchers. It’s also not clear whether a 30th player would be permissible on the day of a twin bill (as was the case in allowing a 26th man in previous seasons). The specifics of roster expansion and the format of a rebooted “spring” training are among the many items that still need to be hammered out even after MLB and the MLBPA reached an agreement on service time, player salaries and the 2020 draft last night.
Only a month? That’s not long enough. Two months at a minimum..
its probably just a solution that makes it so that spring can be shorter while allowing guys to ramp up during the first month. one should be enough for that presuming a 2-3 week spring training.
Two week spring training + 4 weeks of expanded rosters = original 6 week spring training
Noice
Noice
Just make it an even 30 and let the teams construct their own rosters, instead of placing positional limits.
Agreed, there are some teams, like ATL – whose AAA team is a 40-min drive from their stadium in Gwinnett to Truist Park – so they can have a game-time turnaround in roster maneuvering that many other teams have to factor in travel times (i.e. Nationals AAA team is Fresno (CA) Grizzlies).
I don’t care how many players are allowed on the roster. Just play baseball.
I wonder if some of the players that were optioned last night are going to get a call up for opening day. Teams have had to known about this roster expansion, they won’t want to waste an option on players for no reason
I bet Elias doesn’t feel so good about giving up on his rule 5 guys so fast right now
Rule 5 guys are really happy right now (the ones who haven’t been returned that is). This will give clubs a full month to evaluate Rule 5 guys; a luxury never before afforded. Now let’s hope we can get this under control so we can resume some semblance of a normal life again, including Major League Baseball!
Is there any chance they can play two seven inning double headers? The games are far too long anyways and will only make more people sick.
Works in independent minor leagues.
Have no idea when we’ll be able to start the season, but glad baseball is planning now for an eventual return to play.
Should be a 30 man roster anyway
I’d love to know what happens if a player(s) contract the virus
Well, I’m not sure, but I guess they would go lay down at home and get better then get ready to play baseball.
They had better be at home when they contract the virus otherwise there’s going to be lots of other players staying home as a Precaution.
With the draft shortened to five rounds, the trashcan men take a bit more of a hit (ha,ha).
They should play double headers to get caught up and have at least 30 players 15 pitchers and 15 hitters
Moot point. There won’t, and shouldn’t be, a 2020 season.
There WON’T be a season? Really? We are still in March. Even if life doesn’t get back to normal until June, you can still play a shortened season.
Keep it forever