The Major League Baseball (MLB) Players Association, currently in negotiations with team owners for a new collective bargaining agreement, has proposed a temporary expansion of team rosters.
According to U.S. media outlets including ESPN, the MLB Players Association proposed on July 2 (KST) that rosters be increased from the current 26 players to 28 for the first 15 days of the regular season. The union stated this would reduce the burden on existing big leaguers and allow more players to be included on Opening Day rosters.
Additionally, the players' union proposed moving the eligibility date for the 60-day injured list (IL) up by three months to November. This would allow teams more flexibility to sign players during the offseason without being constrained by the 40-man roster limit.
The union's calculation is that placing injured players on the 60-day long-term injured list during the active offseason signing period would provide teams with more breathing room in managing their 40-man rosters.
The players' union also proposed reducing the number of times a player can be optioned to the minor leagues from five times per year to three. Furthermore, they requested that players sent down to the minor leagues in September and October continue to receive big league service time and be paid at the major league salary level, as is currently the case.
In addition, the union requested the creation of a one-to-two-day religious leave to allow players to participate in religious events. They also proposed that teams be allowed to designate a bullpen catcher with professional experience as an emergency third catcher in case both active catchers are injured during a game.
Currently, in emergency situations where both catchers are sidelined, a position player must wear the catcher's mask, which carries a high risk of injury.
The current MLB collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on December 2.
If a new agreement is not reached by then, a lockout by team owners could lead to disruptions in the MLB offseason and next year's regular season.
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