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How proposed MLB rule changes might affect the A's



News broke last night that Commissioner Rob Manfred was pushing for game-altering rule changes to be implemented in advance of the coming 2019 season. The modifications range from pace of play ideas that we’re familiar (the pitching clock) to more core changes, like the National League adopting the DH.

However, it seems as though the conversation has steered towards more new and untested ideas being implemented in the majors before a trial-run in the minors. Specifically, three of the biggest changes could be coming on the roster building side of the game: a 3-batter minimum for relief pitchers, a 12-pitcher maximum for rosters, and an additional roster spot to bring that number to 26.

The NL adopting the DH does affect the A’s, and I’ll get to that in a minute, but the bigger immediate issue for the 2019 A’s would be what essentially amounts to the elimination of bullpen specialists. No one will be shocked to hear the bullpen was the key strength of Oakland, and it’ll need to be a strength again this coming year, but without platoon specialists this time around. It’s a rule change that affects every team, but the timing of the change might affect some teams better than others.

As far as timing goes, the A’s couldn’t be in a much better position. Athletics Nation was desperately asking Billy Beane and Co. for another ‘pen lefty, but it’s a good thing they didn’t spend what little money they have left on it. The elimination of specialists doesn’t affect how the bullpen should be used because for the most part the ‘pen is filled with guys who are studs against lefties or righties. Bob Melvin even trusted Ryan Buchter, currently the sole lefty in the bullpen, to throw against righties, albeit with not the sheer dominance he displays against lefties. The two units at the back end handle their lefties: Trivino held lefty opponents to a .648 OPS, Treinen to a .462 OPS. New addition Joakim Soria held his own, too, posting a respectable .704 OPS against. Even Yusmeiro Petit and Fernando Rodney dominated lefties in 2018. And of course they all did even better against same-handed opponents (except for Rodney, who oddly had severe reverse splits in 2018 for the first time in his career)

The bigger rule change that would truly affect how the A’s build their roster is the cap on pitchers allowed on the team. The A’s have been using 13 pitchers for a few years now, partly because that's where the pitching’s current strength lies, and reducing that number to 12 obviously weakens the unit and Melvin’s flexibility every game. And the A’s in particular don’t need an extra batter because of the presence of super-sub extraordinaire Chad Pinder. This rule change might affect the team far more directly on a daily basis than the 3-batter rule for relievers. It would also likely eliminate the opener strategy used with Hendricks late in the year, as the tactic just wouldn’t be worth the roster spot associated with it.

Now as for the National League finally adopting the DH, it feels almost inevitable that it’s going to happen sooner than later. And for the 2019 season it doesn’t affect Oakland in really any way, big or small. The team already has their DH, one of the best in all of baseball to boot. The effects will ripple throughout baseball, however, and Oakland will be affected one way or the other down the line. Roughly 15 teams will have an opening at their newly-created DH slot, many of them with cash to spend, a motivation to win, and the best bat possible on the free agent market.

With that in mind, it’s worth wondering if the A’s really could afford to keep Khrush past ‘19. Almost as valuable as anyone on the team, he’ll be looking for what’ll likely be his only big payday after playing his age-31 season in Oakland. On the one hand, 32-and-up DH-only sluggers haven’t been getting paid like they used to, but on the other there’ll be half the league looking for that specific position, an incredibly unique time to be on the market playing that position. It always seemed as though there wasn’t a huge likelihood of a deal coming together before Opening Day, and this news might have ended any realistic possibility of a fair for both sides type of deal. If I’m Khris Davis, I’m only taking a huge overpay to sign an extension; otherwise I’m testing free agency to see what’s out there in a unique market.

It’s worth noting that none of the changes are final or approved or anywhere close to happening at this stage. It's likely some or all of these will be delayed a year to allow teams to prepare for those changes. With the collective bargaining agreement ending soon, ideas like these were always going to be looked at and discussed and studied. The only rule change that seems truly inevitable is the DH going to the National League. But should the discussed rule changes be implemented for 2019 or 2020, the changes themselves would probably only cause a small effect on the current bullpen’s usage, but more importantly give Khrush a bigger reason to go try free agency. Either way, baseball has been making modest changes to the game for a few years now and we might be about to see some of the biggest changes yet. Stay tuned….