So, I know this is really early to delve into a matter that will not affect our fantasy baseball leagues until September 2020, but I wanted to put this down in writing while I was thinking about it — and encourage you to file it away, too.
For fantasy players, there is an unintended positive consequence of Major League Baseball’s decision to limit final-month roster expansion from 40 players to just 28 starting next season, which should result in more injured list moves in September.
Why would more IL moves be a good thing, you might ask?
In recent years (and as will be the case in 2019, as well), MLB teams typically do not use their 10-day injured lists in September. The reason is simple — they don’t have to. Since rosters are expanded to a theoretical maximum of 40, what is the difference?
To them, it matters none, but to fantasy players it can be a major problem.
For owners of good players whose September injuries may not be season-ending, the current situation can cause significant roster pressure at the worst possible time — as leagues are playing down to the wire.
“Is the injured guy coming back for the final two weeks or is he done for the year?” is an example. “Do I hold him or drop him?” they wonder. “How do I make roster room even if I can find a replacement?” And so on…
Though a number of fantasy leagues have large or even unlimited Injured List spots, since the players aren’t typically put there by their MLB teams, owners can be faced with difficult cut decisions.
However, next September, the 28 active-player restriction should drive more final month IL moves across MLB. While giving up one of 40 spots is no big deal, ceding one of just 28 to carry an injured player will matter to these contending teams.
One by-product of this should be fewer upset fantasy owners.
I am still angry
Having said that, I am still upset and have a bone to pick with MLB related to these upcoming changes. The 40-to-28 cut is clearly an anti-prospect move, likely based on money as much or more than anything else.
The prevailing logic behind the 40-to-28 reduction is to level the playing field in the final month and limit the high number of pitching changes as races conclude. While I get that, keeping the larger expanded rosters of today while having each team designate a list of 28 active players for each September game would accomplish the same thing, while still letting more prospects be called up.
What really happened is that MLB and the Players Association again cheated prospects in favor of increased benefits for big-leaguers.
As part of these changes for 2020, an expansion of the active roster from 25 to 26 players during the entire season was approved. I was amazed to see this — as I did not believe MLB owners would ever be willing to absorb the additional expense related to carrying another active player for six months straight.
Then, I realized they can trade off the salary money by bringing up many fewer minor leaguers in September. The new final-month limit will be just two additions (from 26 to 28).
Just as in matters of their sub-minimum wage salaries, minor leaguers have no representation at the bargaining table. As a result, they are again the losers.
Closing on a positive, sort of
In AL- and NL-only fantasy leagues, the 26th man will increase the active player pool by 15 at any given point in time. As an owner who competes in this format, I can appreciate this. In any given week currently, there are few, if any, non-second catchers available as free agents who received more than 10 at-bats, for example.
But before we get too excited, let’s keep the eye on the big picture. There will still be the same number of innings pitched and theoretically, plate appearances taken after the 26th-man is introduced. The stats will just be spread over one additional player per team. (Note that recent remarks by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred make it clear that the universal designated hitter is a 2021 discussion.)
In that context, I give it no more than a shrug of the shoulders.
Brian Walton was the 2009 National League Tout Wars champion, having scored the most single-season points in the league’s two decades-plus of history. He also holds the all-time NL Tout single-season records for wins and saves. His work can also be found daily at TheCardinalNation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
