MLB's Offer of 154-Game Season Proposes Radical, Fan-Friendly Change
MLB proposed to shorten the schedule to 154 games, while expanding the Division Series to a best-of-seven format.
Major League Baseball has proposed a radical, fan-friendly change to its season structure, which the Players Association has largely rejected. The proposal, announced on October 8th, includes several noteworthy adjustments. In 2027, higher-seeded teams in the wild-card and division series will be able to choose their opponents before each round.
For instance, the third-seeded team will decide whether to face the fifth or sixth-seeded team in the following round. Additionally, starting in 2029, the regular season will consist of 154 games, and the division series will expand to a best-of-seven format, up from the current best-of-five. The American League shifted from 154 to 162 regular-season games in 1961, and the National League followed suit the year after.
This proposal aims to highlight the best teams while cutting more than a week of games for the weakest ones. However, the concession is not without its drawbacks; eight regular-season games would be lost for every team, and players would theoretically earn more per game but would no longer be able to challenge many single-season counting stat records, including the top eight home run totals in MLB history.
Furthermore, the ability to choose playoff opponents could add excitement to each series, as underdogs would be more visible. The Players Association is unlikely to accept these proposals, as they would require the acceptance of a salary cap, which they view as detrimental to player rights and compensation.
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