It’s done: since 7 p.m. tonight, the collective agreement has been in effect. The owners voted unanimously to ratify the new labor agreement.
MLB is restarted. Free agents can sign. Teams can trade. Teams can once again promote their players.
Let the fun begin! pic.twitter.com/c7KQKSj618
—MLB (@MLB) March 11, 2022
good lord yes pic.twitter.com/Jebdv0TRgD
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) March 11, 2022
There is a big change in the new convention which has fallen between the cracks of the floor, but which is significant: from 2023, there will be fewer intra-division clashes.
Each team will also play a series against the 29 other clubs in the circuit each year, including the 15 teams from the other league. The 29 clubs will not come home, but they will all be on the schedule.
Another win for the fans in the new CBA: Starting in 2023 #MLB schedule will havefewer divisional games & and every single team will play at least one series against every other opponent in both leagues.
—Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) March 10, 2022
Are we setting the table to ultimately eliminate the National and the American?
With the universal pick hitter, that’s easier to do. It is not done as of 2022 since the calendar is already out.
This will help the big clubs in the big divisions, of course. Playing against less good clubs will help to get wins.
The Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays should be happy…just like the poor Orioles.
Expanding the playoff field and reducing in-division games would have been a MASSIVE story for Jays fans in pretty much any other year that I can remember. Now it’s like… ok, whatever they’re gonna be awesome either way lol
—Andrew Stoeten (@AndrewStoeten) March 11, 2022
For my part, I am not satisfied. 76 clashes with four clubs, I liked that. It felt like destroying your opponent. At the end of the season, you were facing the big division enemies and along the way, there was always a division rival somewhere.
I loved.
That said, seeing all the teams every year won’t be bad either. It won’t be unpleasant, but it will be less magical. And that will take a long way to go.
What do you think?
- The journalists are back in the locker room.
Rob Manfred says that reporters will now be permitted back into the clubhouses, just like before Covid.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 10, 2022
- The season will start on April 7 or 8, depending on the club. For the Blue Jays, it will be Marcus Semien’s return to town. The first duel on the 7th? Boston to New York. That’s why I like 76 games against rivals…
The schedule was magically returned 🪄 pic.twitter.com/JbK1nBKQge
—Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) March 11, 2022
- Will they add spring duels?
Again via #Bluejays website, there are 10 Grapefruit League games scheduled beginning with a March 18 meeting with the Boston Red Sox.
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) March 11, 2022
Also: with 12 teams in playoffs, there will likely be fewer sellers in July, more buyers. Might mean fewer arms available in trade. And / or that the prices for the few available arms will be higher. Could be good news for someone like Carlos Rodon.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) March 11, 2022
