Single trade deadline, ASG revisions among changes made by MLB, MLBPA

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced several changes for the 2019 and 2020 seasons on Thursday.

Several changes will go into effect in 2019, including the elimination of the August waiver trade period; an All-Star Game "Election Day", in which fans will vote for the top three vote-getters at each position in each league to determine the starters for the Midsummer Classic; prize money being awarded to the winner of the Home Run Derby; the reduction of time during inning breaks; and the reduction of mound visits for each team in every individual game.

Breakdown of 2019 changes

• Innings breaks: Inning breaks will be reduced from two minutes and five seconds to two minutes in local games, and from two minutes and 25 seconds to two minutes in national games. This is subject to discussions with broadcast partners.
• Mound visits: The maximum number of mound visits will be reduced from six to five per team, per game.
• All-Star Game: Fan voting will be conducted in two rounds. Round one mirrors the old voting system, which will be followed by an "Election Day" in late June or early July, where the top three vote-getters at each position in each league will be voted on by fans to determine the All-Star Game starters. During the All-Star Game, the 10th inning or any other subsequent innings will begin with a runner on second base.
• Home Run Derby: Total prize money for the competition will be increased to $2.5 million, with the event's winner receiving $1 million.
• Trade Deadline: The August waiver trade deadline will be eliminated in favor of one trade deadline on July 31. Players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers after July 31, but trades will not be permitted.

In 2020, team roster sizes from Opening Day through Aug. 31 will increase from 25 to 26, the 40-man active roster limit in September will be eliminated, a three-batter minimum for pitchers will go into place, and the minimum time a player spends on the injured list will be increased.

Breakdown of 2020 changes

• Roster sizes: Team's roster sizes from Opening Day through Aug. 31 will increase from 25 to 26, with the minimum number of active players rising from 24 to 25, while roster sizes for doubleheaders will rise from 26 to 27. The 40-man active roster for September will be eliminated. Clubs may carry 28 players on their active roster from Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season. Of further note, the number of pitchers teams can carry on their active rosters will be capped at a certain number, with the limit being decided by a joint committee in the future. Clubs are required to designate each of their players as a pitcher or position player prior to each team's first regular-season game, and this designation can't be changed. Position players won't be allowed to pitch in games unless they're designated as a "two-way player," the game is in extra innings, or their team is losing or winning a game by more than six runs when they enter as a pitcher.
• Injured list: The minimum time a player can spend on the injured list will increase from 10 days to 15. The minimum assignment period of pitchers who are optioned to the minors will increase from 10 days to 15.
• Three-batter minimum for pitchers: All pitchers must pitch to a minimum of three batters or to the end of a half-inning, with exceptions being made for injury or illness.

Additionally, as part of the agreement, MLB and the players' association will discuss a renegotiation and extension of the league's collective bargaining agreement - which is set to expire in 2021 - and form a joint committee to further study other potential rule changes.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has also agreed not to implement a pitch clock during the remainder of the collective bargaining agreement.