What The Shortened Season & Rule Changes Mean For The Jays

It’s official, baseball will be back as of July 1st with the season starting in the final week of the July. After a long streak of painful negotiations filled with uncertainty, the commissioner announced he will be imposing a 60 game season with fully prorated salaries, which simply awaited approval from the union in terms of health and safety protocols. After the announcement that the union agreed, the next step was basic rule changes and adjustments for the season, which have now been released.

Other than a shortened 60 game season, several other changes have been revealed, the most significant of which include, but are not limited to: a universal DH, and extra innings starting with a runner on second base. In terms of roster size, teams will start the year with 30 players, which will be cut down to 28 after two weeks, and then the now standard 26 after another two weeks (one month total). Teams will also be able to bring three “taxi players” on road trips as a result of cancelled minor league seasons.

The 60 game season is the obvious biggest change, and it will undoubtedly have baseball looking much different than usual. The young players won’t endure and struggle with typical fatigue in a shorter season, it gives players a chance typically unreachable stats (ie. Bellinger had a .400 average through 60 games 2019), and it gives almost every team in the league playoff hopes, as a small streak of wins can go a huge way in a season where every single win becomes an important one. At 60 games last year, the playoff picture looked quite different, and the world series champion Nationals wouldn’t have made it, not even in a wild card spot. This is huge for the Jays, as it gives them the playoff hopes that nobody expected them to have in 2020. With signings like Ryu, Shaw, and others, a shortened season might give the team their best opportunity to make the playoffs. The young Jays would be unlikely to play at a high rate for a 162 game season, as many saw with Guerrero Jr., who admitted he felt heavily fatigued at the end of 2020. After finishing the 2019 season much stronger than they started (29-31 in their final 60), the team could be poised to make a playoff run with their new ace, a healthy Shoemaker, and a rookie Nate Pearson.

How will the rosters be affected by the changes? This is arguably the most significant rule change for the team, and it will have the largest positive effects. The first major rule change is the expanded rosters for the first month of the season. High potential outfielders Anthony Alford and Derek Fisher are all out of minor league options, and would have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors, where they would likely be claimed. They were struggling to prove themselves in spring training, and it became apparent that the Jays wouldn’t have room in their crowded outfield for the pair, especially Alford. The expanded rosters will give them the opportunity to break camp with the team, and give them a couple weeks to prove themselves once again.

The next big change is taxi players. With three taxi players allowed each road trip, the team will likely select a catcher (Joseph), a utility player (Tejada), and a pitcher (many options) who likely wouldn’t have seen any major league time otherwise with the minor league seasons cancelled. The team could also choose to go in another direction and fill the positions with some prospects for developmental reasons, just like a potential Nate Pearson call up. With no minor league season, Pearson is likely to start the year with the team, and will be a major role player throughout the season for the young squad.

Although 2020 will have less baseball than normal, and empty stadiums, Jays fans have lots to be excited about headed into the season. Whether it’s the unexpected playoff hopes, the first season of Ryu, or the debut of Nate Pearson, there are plenty of reasons for fans, and the front office to be optimistic about the year. Fans are still awaiting the announcement on where the team will play their games with the border restrictions and the provincial quarantine laws, but regardless of whether the games are in Toronto or Dunedin, the entire fanbase will likely be satisfied simply to watch their team back on the field.