Major League Baseball is carrying over some of its rule changes from 2020 into the 2021 season.
According to multiple reports, the league and players association reached a health and safety protocol agreement, which includes implementing seven-inning doubleheaders and returning the extra-inning rule in which a runner is placed on second base to start each inning.
The agreement does not include a universal DH, however.
Per Joel Sherman, MLB is also looking at the successes of other leagues and their handling of COVID-19, particularly the NBA’s tracing technology that has allowed for better discovery of close contacts whenever there is a positive test.
The doubleheader and extra inning rules were first instituted last season in order for MLB to cut down on the time spent on the field as well as making rescheduling games easier amid the coronavirus pandemic.
While the league will play a full 162-game season, the pandemic is still ongoing and the rules are meant to benefit player safety.
The universal DH has been among the hot-button topic for fans and players this winter, but the league has said it is not a health and safety issues, hence why it was not a part of the agreement.
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