Manfred: No DH or draft changes likely for 2019

Don't look for a National League designated hitter this year or for new anti-tanking rules in June's amateur draft.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday that management is focused on pace-of-game changes for 2019 and bolder ideas proposed by the players' association are too complex to be put in place for this season.

Speaking Friday after an owners' meeting, Manfred felt encouraged the union responded to management's proposal for a pitch clock and a three-batter minimum for a relief pitcher unless an inning ends.

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

"Some of these items need to be part of broader discussions that certainly will continue after opening day, and I hope we can focus on some of the issues that need to get resolved quickly in the interim," Manfred said.

Baseball is in its third year of a five-year labor deal, one in which the free-agent market has slowed considerably — even with premier players available such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Management would discuss larger changes as part of a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement extending beyond December 2021.

"I hope and I really do believe that there is a common interest between the players' association, the players, the owners and the commissioner's office in changes, whether they're midterm or otherwise, that make our entertainment product the best it could possibly be," Manfred said.

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

After the 2017 and 2018 seasons, players rebuffed management's proposal for a pitch clock designed to speed to the pace of play. Management has the right to implement a clock, but Manfred has been reluctant to make on-field changes without players' agreement.

Management presented its latest proposal Jan. 14, one that included a requirement that pitchers face at least three batters or finish an inning. Players responded Feb. 1 with a broader plan, renewing their push for the DH in all games, an earlier trade deadline aimed at discouraging teams with losing records from trading stars, increasing service time for top young stars called up early in the season and rewarding and penalizing teams in the draft based on their records.

"Those are significant economic issues. They are different in kind than the type of playing-rule changes that that we have out there," Manfred said. "I think that there are pieces of their response on the on-field proposal that were very encouraging. I think what needs to be sorted out is how closely the two agendas are tied, in other words, the on-field stuff and the economic stuff."

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

Last offseason, negotiations were hampered by player anger over the slow free-agent market. This offseason's pace of signings has been faster but remains far slower than most previous years.

"We want players signed, particularly star players. I wish they were signed and ready to go," Manfred said. "We got another week before they have to report. I'm really hopeful that it's going to get resolved during that period of time."

MLB's proposal that pitchers face a minimum of three batters in an inning unless it ends was designed both for pace and to slow or reverse the increased use of relievers. The union wants its use at the big league level delayed until 2020.

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

"Repeated pitching changes obviously take a lot of time," he said. "The idea of relievers having to go longer is appealing in terms of promoting the role of the starting pitcher, encouraging pitchers to pitch a little longer at the beginning of the game. ... I think historically some of our biggest stars (are) starting pitchers and we want to make sure those big stars are out there long enough that that they are marketed."

ATTENDANCE

After three straight years of drops that left attendance at its lowest since 2003, Manfred said it is too early to speculate about 2019.

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, speaks during a news conference at owners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

"We're hopeful that we see a rebound from last year but, again, difficult to predict at this point," he said.

He said he doesn't think the operation of the free-agent market was a big issue affecting ticket sales.

"I do think that negative commentary surrounding the game that is not factually supported can have an impact on attendance — assertions about clubs not trying to win and the like, I think that's not helpful," he said.

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, arrives at a news conference at the wbbowners meetings Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

GAMBLING

MLB has talked to the union about expanding the anti-gambling provision section of the Major League Rules to prohibit the disclosure of confidential information that could be used in betting.

REVENUE SHARING GRIEVANCE

Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball, talks to reporters at the end of the day's conferences at MLB baseball owners meetings Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP PhotoJohn Raoux)

Manfred said the union is still in the fact-gathering stage of its grievance filed last winter accusing Miami, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay of not properly spending money they received in revenue sharing.

On other matters:

SOCIAL MEDIA

MLB will make game highlights available to players for use on social media.

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRO BALL

Teams will wear a special patch to mark the 150th anniversary of professional baseball, and there will be special hats on opening day. The Cincinnati Reds, the first pro team in 1869, will be at the forefront of the celebration.

REGIONAL SPORTS NETWORKS

MLB received a second round of data in its effort to purchase 14 team regional sports networks from The Walt Disney Co., which is selling them after acquiring the networks from 21st Century Fox. If successful, MLB could resell rights to streaming services or cable providers. "I think that we recognize that the media landscape is changing quickly and if somebody is going to be managing that changing landscape, we just as soon that it be us," Manfred said.

RAWLINGS

MLB extended its agreement with Rawlings to supply baseballs, a deal that also includes helmets and gloves.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Boston's John Henry and Colorado's Dick Monfort were elected to the executive council, replacing Atlanta's Terry McGuirk and the New York Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner. The council also includes the Chicago Cubs' Tom Ricketts and Tampa Bay's Stu Sternberg (whose terms expire in 2020); San Diego's Ron Fowler and Houston's Jim Crane (2021); and Milwaukee's Mark Attanasio and Jerry Reinsdorf of the Chicago White Sox (2022).

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kickoff returns are returning to the NFL.

Team owners on Tuesday approved a new rule that will take what essentially had become “a dead play” and make it an integral part of the game again.

“We feel this is a great day for the NFL,” said Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, who was heavily involved in creating the framework for the new hybrid kickoff.

The major overhaul to special teams — which has been in the works for years — takes elements of the kickoff rules used in the XFL and tweaks them for use in the NFL beginning in 2024. The rule will be in play for one season on a trial basis and then be subject to renewal in 2025.

NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said the new rule passed by a 29-3 to vote.

“There was a little fear of the unknown,” McKay said. “I think the optics are definitely the most drastic (rule change) we’ve seen. The thing that gives us all the comfort is we have the tape, we've seen it. We can show you the plays and you can see how this can play out.”

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, right, talks with reporters during an NFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

McKay said there was urgency to vote on this rule before the draft because it could impact the way teams structure rosters. There were 1,970 touchbacks on kickoffs last season that now could be returns. There were 92 fair catches last season that are no longer allowed. Any ball caught in the field of play must be returned.

“The kickoff returners' value is gonna skyrocket,” Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel said.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he anticipates the league may have to tinker with the rule in the future but considers this “a big improvement.”

“I think it will bring the play back into a relevant play, an important play, an exciting play and I think we can do it where the injury rate will drop,” Goodell said.

For a standard kickoff, the ball would be kicked from the 35-yard line with the 10 kick coverage players lined up at the opposing 40, with five on each side of the field.

The return team would have at least nine blockers lined up in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There would be up to two returners allowed inside the 20.

Only the kicker and two returners would be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or was touched by a returner inside the 20.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and possession at the 30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the end zone also would result in a touchback at the 30.

If a ball hits a returner or the ground before the end zone and goes into the end zone, a touchback would be at the 20 or the play could be returned.

“It’s a drastic kind of move that’s going to be way different,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, a former special teams coordinator. “Is that the right move at this time? I don’t know. I think that’s to be determined."

Under current rules, any touchback — or if a returner calls for a fair catch in the field of play — results in the receiving team getting the ball at its 25.

The proposal needed 24 of 32 votes to pass.

“I’m all for it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You have 2,000 dead plays. Nobody wants to see that. It’ll add excitement and newness.”

In other rule changes, the owners voted to make two tweaks to instant replay. Replay can now be used to review whether the game clock expired before the snap and also can correct an obvious error when a passer was ruled down by contact or out of bounds before throwing the ball.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Previously, those plays had been ruled dead at the spot but now can be changed with clear evidence. If the pass is caught or intercepted, it would be down at that spot with no advancement. If the pass was incomplete, that would stand.

There were several other changes, including allowing teams in the playoffs to have unlimited returns from injured reserve if they have missed four games. Teams also can place up to two players on IR, the physically unable to perform list or non-football injury list before cutting the roster to 53 players and have them still be eligible to return.

Owners also voted to move the trade deadline back one week to the Tuesday following the end of Week 9 and will allow a team to elevate a “bona fide” quarterback from the practice squad an unlimited amount of times to be the emergency third quarterback.

Tom Brady’s bid to purchase a share of the Las Vegas Raiders remains on hold.

Owners didn’t take a vote on whether to approve Brady’s potential ownership stake during this week’s league meetings. There’s been concern that Raiders owner Mark Davis is discounting the price for Brady.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a delay,” Goodell said. “We go through a thorough process. ... I think it’s making progress.”

AP Pro Football Writers Mark Long and Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and Competition Committee Chairman, addresses reporters about rules changes at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)