MLBPA Makes Transaction Proposals to Benefit All Players

NEW YORK -– The Major League Baseball Players Association today proposed expanding active rosters from 26 to 28 players for the first 15 days of the regular season -- one of a series of new collective bargaining proposals designed to improve the game, protect players’ health and safety, strengthen the free market, and provide meaningful support to the full player fraternity.

The 28-player limit, which would include a maximum of 14 pitchers per roster, is designed to protect player health in the days leading up to and after Opening Day, while providing additional job opportunities for players coming out of spring training.

The union made several other new proposals under the umbrella of transactions, rosters and access to data. The Players Association and MLB began meeting in May to negotiate a new CBA to replace the current agreement, which expires in December.

“These new measures will benefit all players while helping to build upon the industry’s current momentum,” said Bruce Meyer, the MLBPA’s interim executive director.

The union’s other new proposals would:

• Reduce the number of permissible in-season optional assignments per player from five to three, to help combat roster churn and promote full-time jobs at the MLB level throughout the year.

• Allow for placement of players on the 60-day injured list as early as the November tender deadline. The move would open additional 40-man roster spots for clubs to utilize in the offseason, particularly to replace players with known and lengthier injury recovery timelines.

• Accelerate eligibility for the Rule 5 Draft and ensure a Rule 5 Draft will be held in 2026 and each year of the next CBA. This proposal is designed to give minor league prospects earlier and continued opportunities to be added to MLB rosters.

• Provide MLB service time and salary protections to pitchers who are optioned to the minors over the All-Star break and/or immediately after a game where they have met certain performance thresholds. This change would reduce roster manipulation and protect players (often middle relievers and spot starters) who are optioned but expected to “stay hot.’’

• Enable all players to access club-collected non-proprietary performance data and video. This measure is designed to increase transparency and allow players to track their work with the same information available to team management.