As MLB and its players association continue working out a finalized agreement regarding the 2020 season, another stipulation has reportedly been set: an Aug. 31 trade deadline.
Multiple reports have confirmed the altered deadline — though The Athletic‘s Jayson Stark was first to report it – which would take place only four or five weeks into the truncated 2020 season.
Other rule changes, as reported by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and gathered by MLB Trade Rumors, include the following:
• 30-man rosters to start the season; shrunk down to 28 on the 15th day and down to the standard 26 on the 29th day
• A runner on second base to start each inning of extras (regular season only); the player who made the final out of the previous inning would be the runner
• MLB may decided to suspend games, due to weather, if they haven’t exceeded five innings
• A 10-day injured list for both position players and pitchers (under current rules, pitchers have a 15-day IL instead); the 60-day IL may be cut to 45 days
• Three days prior to the start of spring training, teams must submit a list of 60 players that are eligible to play for them this season (i.e. a 40-man roster plus an additional “taxi squad”); these players would report on a staggered basis to prevent large groups
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported earlier on Tuesday that the MLBPA has agreed to report to training camp on July 1 and play out a 60-game season — but final agreements regarding health and safety protocols have yet to be finalized.
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