The players’ association has put forward a sweeping set of proposals that would fundamentally alter how major‑league rosters are managed, signaling a decisive push to reshape the sport’s labor landscape.
A centerpiece of the plan calls for cutting the number of optional assignments a player can receive to the minors from five to three over the course of a season, a move designed to curb constant shuffling and give prospects greater stability.
Roster and Service‑Time Adjustments
The union is also asking that the active‑roster size be expanded to 28 players for the first fifteen days of the season, while seeking to open the 60‑day injured list at the November tender deadline, a change that would affect how teams handle late‑season injuries.
In addition, pitchers who are optioned during the All‑Star break or who meet certain performance thresholds would be credited with major‑league service time, a provision intended to reward on‑field achievement even when a player is sent down.
Data Access and Timing of Talks
Perhaps most striking is the demand for guaranteed access to non‑proprietary team performance and video data, a request that would give players a window into the analytics that shape contract decisions and front‑office strategies.
While a lockout is widely anticipated, insiders say that substantive bargaining is unlikely to intensify until early 2027, with the threat of canceled regular‑season games looming as a potential flashpoint that could turn the dispute into an economic standoff.