Major League Baseball has proposed reducing the regular season from 162 to 154 games starting in 2029, alongside expanding the Division Series from best-of-five to best-of-seven and introducing a system where higher-seeded teams can pick their playoff opponents beginning in 2027. These changes were outlined in the league’s latest labor proposal to the MLB Players Association on Thursday.
The proposal also includes a standard off-day each week, aiming to benefit player health by creating a more consistent schedule. This off-day would resemble the universal Monday rest day in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and the minor leagues in the United States. Reducing the regular season by eight games would align MLB’s schedule more closely with the historical 154-game seasons last used by the American League from 1920 to 1961 and the National League from 1920 to 1962.
MLB’s proposal to extend the Division Series to a best-of-seven format would potentially add up to eight postseason games, increasing the overall playoff length. The most notable innovation is allowing higher-seeded clubs in the Wild Card and Division Series rounds to select their opponents, a concept also floated during previous negotiations. The league has not clarified whether these selections would be televised, but the approach could introduce new strategic and psychological elements to postseason play.
The MLBPA responded cautiously, saying, “The league made multiple scheduling proposals today. We are reviewing these materials, including the proposed changes to the playoff format. Players will weigh in on these proposals and we will respond at the bargaining table.” The union emphasized that all proposals remain conditional on player agreement to a salary cap and floor system, which it opposes. The union described the proposed salary cap as “a system that guts player rights and compensation,” along with other “anti-player proposals.”
The current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on December 1, and a lockout of players appears likely if no deal is reached. The salary cap remains the most contentious issue, overshadowing other changes like the schedule and postseason format.
Reducing the schedule by eight games means teams would lose four home games each season, a move that could impact revenue. However, MLB seems confident that ticket prices for the remaining 77 home games will adjust accordingly, and the longer Division Series could boost national television revenue. This revenue is distributed equally among all 30 teams, not just those in the postseason. The league’s current national TV deal expires after the 2028 season, suggesting that negotiations over broadcasting rights could influence the financial calculus.
The proposed changes come amid ongoing tensions between MLB and the players’ union. The league insists these proposals depend on salary cap acceptance, while the MLBPA maintains it will not agree to any form of salary cap. As negotiations continue, the league’s plan to shorten the regular season and expand the playoffs with opponent selection adds new dimensions to the labor talks.
MLB’s latest proposal also reflects a broader effort to address player health concerns, with the addition of a weekly off-day and fewer games. The players’ association has expressed interest in returning to a 154-game schedule in recent years, citing injury and workload issues.
For now, the fate of these proposals hinges on the bargaining process. The next step will be the MLBPA’s formal response at the negotiating table, with the upcoming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement looming.
According to CBS.