LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball's hot stove has been all the way turned up over the last two weeks, melting expectations as free agents enjoy the richest market in history. But roster construction is far from complete for most clubs. Two months remain before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. There's plenty of time for more moves.
Hovering in the backdrop as front offices allocate their resources is an unknown awaiting them until the games start. The 2023 season will introduce perhaps the biggest non-COVID-season wave of rules changes the league has seen. There are four major changes: a pitch timer, a pickoff limit, defensive shift restrictions and bigger bases.
Last week, several managers and front office executives offered their opinions on the upcoming changes at the winter meetings in San Diego. Nobody seemed to expect a huge impact, at least not immediately, but a consensus formed: One change will require more adaptation for players than the rest. Let's start there as we break down each.
