According to a report from MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are currently discussing several proposed rule changes that could have a major impact on how the game is played.
Rosenthal was on MLB Network on Wednesday morning to discuss the possible changes, two of which are generating the most discussion among baseball fans.
1. A three-batter minimum for pitchers: In this proposal, pitchers would need to face a minimum of three batters before exiting a game, which would eliminate the practice of bringing in a reliever to face one hitter in a high-leverage or lefty-on-lefty situation. The rule would be enacted with hopes of increaing the pace of play.
2. Universal DH: As part of this discussion, the Players Association has proposed something that has been debated for decades now: A universal designated hitter across both leagues. The American League adopted the DH in 1973, while the NL has abstained and kept the pitcher as a required hitter in a team's starting lineup. That change would fundamentally transform strategy in the NL, and while there's a slim chance it would go into effect this season as teams finalize their rosters, Rosenthal reports that there seems to be "some degree of momentum" for it.