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Major League Baseball proposed this Thursday reducing the number of regular season games from 162 to 154 and changing the playoffs so that the top seeds can choose their opponents.
The proposed changes were presented in the most recent bargaining session between Major League Baseball (MLB) and its players' association, as fears grow over a potential conflict regarding salary restrictions that could disrupt the upcoming season.
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The proposal also includes expanding postseason divisional series from a best-of-five format to a best-of-seven.
"MLB proposed returning to a 154-game regular season, best-of-seven divisional series, and the selection of opponents in the wild card and divisional rounds," the League said in a statement.
The proposed changes include allowing the top-seeded teams in the wild card and divisional rounds to choose their opponents. The variations would be implemented starting next year if an agreement is reached.
The proposals are being released in light of the possible outbreak of a lockout and a players' strike in the coming months.
The next collective bargaining agreement must be negotiated before December.
Team owners are pushing for the implementation of a salary cap and floor, citing huge disparities in payrolls between clubs that they claim hurt competitiveness.
For its part, the players' association opposes any measure that reduces club spending and accuses team owners of wanting to save money.
In a statement sent to AFP, the players' association indicated that it is analyzing the proposals and will allow players to weigh in before responding at the bargaining table.
"Unfortunately, the league made it clear once again that all of its proposals are contingent on players accepting a salary cap," the Players Association statement notes.
The proposed shorter regular season and the expansion of the divisional series would go into effect in 2029.
[Publicidad]