{"id":655259,"date":"2026-05-20T22:23:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/655259\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T22:23:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T22:23:35","slug":"what-rule-changes-are-next-who-will-go-1-2-in-the-mlb-draft-its-our-mlb-mailbag-expert-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/655259\/","title":{"rendered":"What rule changes are next? Who will go 1-2 in the MLB draft? It\u2019s our MLB Mailbag, expert edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve long treated The Athletic\u2019s MLB mailbag the way managers once treated starting pitchers: give someone the ball and see if they can go the distance.<\/p>\n

This time, we\u2019re experimenting with a different approach.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a mailbag bullpen game, and while I have the ball here in the top of the first, I\u2019m more of an opener. My job is to give the team one good inning before a bunch of relievers come out of the bullpen, one after another \u2014 and we\u2019re playing matchups. Specific writers are going to respond to specific questions based on expertise and experience. As always, some questions have been edited for clarity.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll start us off.<\/p>\n

Can someone explain the difference between the IL stints? Is there really a difference between IL10, IL15, and IL60? \u2014 Tom R.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Under the current system, the 10-day IL is for hitters, and the 15-day IL is for pitchers (and two-way players). The numbers mean what you think they mean: A player on the 10-day IL has to be on the injured list for at least 10 days, and a player on the 15-day is out for at least 15 days. An IL stint can be longer but not shorter.<\/p>\n

The 60-day IL is for long-term injuries, and the designation matters because players on the 60-day do not count against 40-man roster limits. So, if a team needs to open a 40-man spot, it can do so by moving a player to the 60-day IL, but that player has to miss at least 60 days (if a player has been on the 15-day IL for 20 days, then goes on the 60-day, he only has to miss 40 more days).<\/p>\n

To make sure I wasn\u2019t missing anything, I texted a longtime executive:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat pretty much covers it,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s also a 7-day concussion IL. Also, there is some nuance to the 60-day IL, but that detail may be unnecessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chad Jennings<\/p>\n

What are the most likely rule changes in the next 1, 3, 5 years?? \u2014\u00a0Eric R.<\/p>\n

First guy out of the pen is our resident Hall of Famer, Jayson Stark. Jayson, take it away:\u00a0<\/p>\n

With labor Armageddon hovering, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll see anything new next year. You could see tweaks to ABS, but that wouldn\u2019t qualify as a rule \u201cchange\u201d in my dictionary. But once the labor clouds lift? Then the league could start implementing \u2014 and experimenting with \u2014 more impactful and creative rule changes. Such as:<\/p>\n

High-tech checked swing calls \u2014 Not only is there technology that can do this, but it\u2019s already being used in Triple A games in the Pacific Coast League. This just started a couple of weeks ago, but there\u2019s an excellent chance you\u2019ll see it in the big leagues sometime.
\nCrackdowns on stalling \u2014\u00a0Hitters don\u2019t think they\u2019re stalling when they call time out. Pitchers don\u2019t think of it as stalling when they claim their PitchCom is on the fritz. But if this year\u2019s minor-league experiments tell us anything, they tell us the league wants to tighten timeouts and limit PitchCom chicanery.
\nMoving second base \u2014 Did you know that for 100 years, second base has been in the \u201cwrong\u201d place? So, watch for how it goes when the International League inches the bag closer to the plate \u2014 and also closer to first\/third base \u2014 in the second half.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0 Jayson Stark<\/p>\n

I think Jed Hoyer got trading prospects for one year of team control out of his system last year with the Kyle Tucker deal. That said, it\u2019s looking like pitching (big surprise) is going to be a real need this season. What pitchers with term do you think are realistic targets for the Cubs to consider trading multiple prospects to get? \u2014 Bryan H.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re looking for an expert on the Cubs and the open market? On this one, let\u2019s turn to Patrick Mooney, who has covered the Cubs for us since 2018 and also specializes in player movement around the league:<\/p>\n

Given the state of their injury-plagued staff, as well as their fast start to the season, the Cubs will consider virtually every pitcher potentially available this summer: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Freddy Peralta, Sandy Alcantara and Joe Ryan, among others, plus high-leverage relievers with big-game experience.<\/p>\n

While the Cubs don\u2019t have much to offer in terms of pitching prospects, they could make major-league talent available. Matt Shaw\u2019s name will likely come up often during trade discussions because he\u2019s currently blocked by infielders Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner and mostly limited to a super-utility role. Triple-A Iowa\u2019s roster features potential everyday players such as Kevin Alc\u00e1ntara and Pedro Ram\u00edrez, and there are more interesting hitters at the lower levels of the farm system.<\/p>\n

By acquiring pitching at the trade deadline, the Cubs can rationalize the cost by getting a jump on their offseason, when Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon can all become free agents, and Cade Horton will still be recovering from elbow surgery.<\/p>\n

The Cubs will have trade chips available. The question, again, is how far a model-driven organization is willing to go outside its comfort zone, and how much the club\u2019s executives are prepared to give up to improve the team\u2019s World Series odds.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Patrick Mooney\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have been rereading \u201cDollar Sign on the Muscle,\u201d the great book on baseball scouting. It is now very outdated, but still interesting. What are the best modern books on baseball (scouting or otherwise) that are worth purchasing? \u2014 Tom W.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s Tyler Kepner, the author of two books about baseball, and also a guy who enjoys reading about the game as much as anyone I know:<\/p>\n

You mentioned modern books, so I\u2019d be a terrible salesman if I didn\u2019t suggest my own: \u201cK \u2014 A History of Baseball In Ten Pitches\u201d (2019), which traces the origins and evolution of 10 different pitch types, and \u201cThe Grandest Stage \u2014 A History of the World Series\u201d (2022), which explores seven different aspects of the World Series, plus a lot of bonus goodies.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in a biography, here are four that stand out: Andy McCullough\u2019s \u201cThe Last Of His Kind,\u201d on Clayton Kershaw (2024); Tim Brown\u2019s \u201cNolan\u201d on Nolan Ryan, which comes out this month; Howard Bryant\u2019s \u201cRickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original\u201d (2022), on Rickey Henderson; and David Maraniss\u2019 \u201cClemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball\u2019s Last Hero\u201d (2007), on Roberto Clemente. I\u2019d also highly recommend \u201cSkipper: Why Baseball Managers Matter and Always Will\u201d (2025), by Scott Miller, a dear friend and wonderful writer who completed it while valiantly battling the cancer that took him way too soon. Scott\u2019s love of the game \u2014 and deep appreciation for the men in the dugout \u2014 really shines through.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Kepner<\/p>\n

In 2008 the Rays opted for a HS SS in Tim Beckham over a college catcher in Posey, and have been searching for a franchise catcher ever since. Assuming Roch Cholowsky goes 1st, what do you think the odds are of the Rays picking Vahn Lackey 2nd over Grady Emerson? Rays have gone prep SS in 3 of the last 5 drafts, including Daniel Pierce last year. \u2014 James P.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s obvious who we\u2019re turning to for this one. You knew it when you asked the question. Here\u2019s our draft and prospects expert, Keith Law:<\/p>\n

I am not assuming Roch Cholowsky goes first at all \u2014 in my last mock, <\/a>I had the White Sox passing on him to take high school shortstop Grady Emerson. I also don\u2019t think the choice for the Rays would be Vahn Lackey vs. Emerson; it would be Lackey vs Jackson Flora, the top pitcher in the draft class.<\/a><\/p>\n

Lackey \u2014 Ga Tech C
\nFlora \u2014 UC Santa Barbara RHP
\nCholowsky \u2014 UCLA SS
\nEmerson \u2014 Fort Worth Christian HS SS<\/p>\n

\u2014 Keith Law<\/p>\n

I absolutely loved the article on Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman, and their respective teams as a win-win-win-win in the changing of their uniforms. Historically, what other moves have created a similar high caliber win for the involved players and teams? \u2014 Jake M.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go straight to the guy who wrote that story<\/a>, Ken Rosenthal:\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not quite the same \u2014 no two situations ever are! \u2014 but a recent example is the way the Yankees rebounded from the loss of Juan Soto. Obviously Soto will be great for the Mets \u2014 maybe not $765M great, but great. But the Yankees\u2019 pivot was impressive. The signings of Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt. The trades for Cody Bellinger, Fernando Cruz and Devin Williams. The Yankees proceeded to lead the majors in runs in 2025, improving upon their total from their one year with Soto. And with essentially the same cast, their offense this season is among the best in the league. Add in Fried and Cruz, and they came out of it just fine.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ken Rosenthal<\/p>\n

What is the best path forward for Cleveland\u2019s starting catching issue? Austin Hedges is a team leader, and he is definitely helping Parker Messick come into his own. Bailey is obviously a defensive wizard, but with Bo Naylor being torn down to the studs and Cooper Ingle sporting a 1.206 OPS in Columbus, what is the best path forward? How do they find at-bats for Ingle (and hide at bats for Patrick Bailey), while continuing to handle the staff effectively? \u2014 Mike K.<\/p>\n

If I told you the catching story this guy is working on right now, you honestly might not believe me (he also happens to cover the Guardians). So here\u2019s Guardians beat writer Zack Meisel to get into the details:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how Guardians manager Stephen Vogt answered this: \u201cWe have three really good catchers. We have a starting catcher every night.\u201d After a grin, he added: \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a tough puzzle to figure out, which is a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vogt noted Bailey\u2019s playing time will increase in the next few weeks as he grows more comfortable with the pitchers and their tendencies. He likes pairing Hedges with Messick, and for good reason; the rookie left-hander has been Cleveland\u2019s most consistent starter. I\u2019d expect Bailey and Hedges to share the vast majority of the reps, with David Fry serving as a pinch-hitter and once-in-a-blue-moon starter, in addition to his other duties as right fielder or DH against lefties.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Patrick Bailey has fit in well so far in a crowded Cleveland catching rotation. (Nick Cammett \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Where that leaves Ingle, of course, is the conundrum. His bat is ready for a big-league audition. The Guardians are encouraged with defensive strides he\u2019s made, but he\u2019s nowhere near the Hedges\/Bailey level, and team president Chris Antonetti admitted it\u2019s possible he eventually works in some other positions. If the Guardians weren\u2019t already devoting a roster spot to Fry, Ingle could ultimately fit well in a reverse Fry role, facing mostly right-handed pitching.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting, the organization is also high on Kody Huff, a well-regarded defender who has also raked this year.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot of catchers. There\u2019s no room for Naylor to chart a path back to the big-league roster, so don\u2019t be surprised if some other catcher-desperate team swings a trade for him. The Guardians could also include a catcher in a prospect package in a midseason trade, assuming they stick atop the AL Central and want to get aggressive.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Zack Meisel<\/p>\n

MLB teams have a Trajekt pitching machine that can replicate any pitcher\u2019s pitches. Are teams using the Trajekt to help train their batters\u2019 (and catchers\u2019) ability to recognize whether pitches are balls or strikes for ABS challenges? If they\u2019re not, they should be! \u2014 Kenneth S.<\/p>\n

We happen to know several teams that are doing this. Among them are the Washington Nationals, so here\u2019s our Nats beat writer, Spencer Nusbaum, to explain\u2026<\/p>\n

At home, the Nationals catchers head into the cages with catching coach Bobby Wilson and go through dozens of ABS reps as they work on their framing. When it\u2019s Keibert Ruiz\u2019s turn to catch, he inputs his height into the machine for an imaginary zone. They test pitches all around the zone, with a particular emphasis on the bottom of the zone. This has helped them a good bit over the course of the season \u2014 at the start of the year, they were one of the worst teams in MLB at challenges (and one of the best at framing). Since late April, they\u2019ve been a middle of the pack bunch in the ABS sphere.<\/p>\n

Of course, it isn\u2019t always perfect. <\/p>\n

Said catcher Drew Millas: \u201cThere was one I can remember in Pittsburgh with Oneil Cruz. I\u2019m catching a ball, like, waist high. And I\u2019m thinking, like, \u2018Oh, that might be there on a six-seven giant.\u2019 And I check it, and it\u2019s like a half an inch above. So the average-height hitters, it\u2019s a lot easier. But the taller guys, like (Matt) Olson this week, it\u2019s real tough, because everything at the bottom feels like a strike, because you\u2019re catching it higher than where it would be a strike for an average height person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 Spencer Nusbaum<\/p>\n

Which story are you most excited to keep tabs on? Something that\u2019s developing but not quite yet narratively complete yet? It could be a player or team\u2019s performance, a behind the scenes story, Olympics, etc. \u2014 Sam M.<\/p>\n

We all have that one friend who brings up random thoughts and observations, seemingly plucked out of nowhere, and after about five minutes of discussion, it becomes clear that he\u2019s actually onto something. For me, Stephen Nesbitt is that friend:<\/p>\n

It\u2019s dreadfully dull to write about the Los Angeles Dodgers in May, and arguably moronic to suggest Shohei Ohtani\u2019s legacy is not yet narratively complete. He will go down as the greatest player in baseball history \u2014 a two-way talent the game has never seen. He\u2019s a surefire Hall of Famer, a four-time MVP and two-time World Series champion, and still just 31 years old.<\/p>\n

Yet until this year what would history say of Ohtani as a pitcher?<\/p>\n

I reckon he\u2019d be overwhelmingly remembered as a hitter. The narrative of Ohtani as a pitcher: Struggled to hold peak performance on the mound; couldn\u2019t stay healthy; might have lasted longer as a reliever. Ohtani had an excellent 3 ERA through 100 career starts from 2018 to 2025, but he only once pitched above 132 innings as he navigated injuries.<\/p>\n

Now, Ohtani is challenging that narrative \u2014 just like he did in 2024 by stealing 59 bases just to show he could. Ohtani, who starts Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, has breezed through his first nine starts of the season with alarming consistency.<\/p>\n

March 31 vs. CLE: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K<\/p>\n

April 8 at TOR: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K<\/p>\n

April 15 vs. NYM: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K<\/p>\n

April 22 at SFG: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K<\/p>\n

April 28 vs. MIA: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K<\/p>\n

May 5 at HOU: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K<\/p>\n

May 13 vs. SFG: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an 0.82 ERA through 44 innings.<\/p>\n

As Ohtani heats up at the plate, watching him waltz to a fifth MVP would not be surprising in the slightest. But winning a Cy Young Award would be his most incredible feat yet.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Stephen Nesbitt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019ve long treated The Athletic\u2019s MLB mailbag the way managers once treated starting pitchers: give someone the ball…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":583437,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[479,2320,363,99,974,2331],"class_list":["post-655259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-cleveland-guardians","tag-mlb","tag-sports","tag-tampa-bay-rays","tag-washington-nationals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}