After a three month lockout, the owners and players agreed on a new five-year collective bargaining deal. This deal brings in a number of changes to the game. 

 

The highlights of the deal include the following

• the universal designated hitter

• an expanded wild-card round (the number of teams expand from 10 to 12; the wild-card becomes a best of three: the top two division winners in each league get a first-round bye)

• minimum salary increase

• a reward for the top young players by a pre-arbitration bonus pool

• a raise in the competitive balance tax threshold

       draft lottery

In addition, a committee (consisting of active players and owners) will form to handle the tasks of potential changes of the game. Still on the table, an international draft. 

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After a season that was pushed to be delayed until April 14th, Opening Day is set for April 7th. Games that were cancelled prior to April 7th will be made up in the form of doubleheaders (these doubleheaders will be 9-inning affairs). A full 162-game season will be played after all. 

 

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The ghost runner returns

After initially scrapping the idea to bring back the runner at second base to start extra-innings, both sides decided to bring back the concept. Other ideas approved are the expansion of rosters to start the season and the pitcher remaining in the game to hit after being pulled from the mound: this is labeled as the "Ohtani Rule"  

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