The MLB lockout truncated the offseason, which is just now getting started back up again thanks to a new CBA being ratified yesterday.
Many around the game are concerned about spring training being shortened as a result of the lockout.
Injuries could be a factor with spring training being truncated.
But to combat this, there have already been talks of starting the 2022 MLB season with expanded rosters up to 30 players, as was the case at the beginning of the 2020 season.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn says MLB plans to “revisit April rosters” as we draw closer to the start of the season.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn said MLB has a plan to 'revisit April rosters' for the early part of the season due to the shortened spring training. (2020 began with 30 man rosters)
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 11, 2022
Extra Insurance
Having rosters expanded is a good way to have a little extra insurance in case injuries become a problem, which the expectation is that they might, given that spring training is shortened this year.
It worked to perfection in 2020, as teams had some extra players on their roster to deal with players potentially testing positive for COVID-19, especially for the St. Louis Cardinals, who had a 17-day layoff after a COVID outbreak in their clubhouse.
So, Opening Day rosters may look a little bigger as a result of the lockout shortening the offseason and spring training.
There isn’t much time to ramp up, so it makes senses as to why they might want to do this.
Teams will need to have players ready as quickly as possible, and again, having expanded rosters is a good way to combat any potential injury concerns, even with the season still being 162 games.
We’ll see what ultimately happens, but with little time to ramp up, it would only make sense to expand rosters a little, at least for the early part of the season.
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