Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred isn’t keen on setting minimum innings for starting pitchers. Instead, he thinks changing transaction rules might encourage teams to let starters pitch longer.
Manfred said on a podcast that using strict inning requirements is too harsh and doesn’t solve the real issue. He mentioned that doctors believe focusing on speed and spin causes more injuries.
He pointed out how starting pitchers are central to the game, both in marketing and media focus. That’s why he suggested tweaking transaction rules instead of enforcing a set number of innings.
New Ideas for Pitching
Manfred explained that when a pitcher throws three days straight, they often get swapped out for rest. He believes creating incentives through roster changes could help develop pitchers who can last longer in games. But he doesn’t think it should be mandatory for pitchers to go six innings each time.
Over the years, MLB’s average innings per start have dropped from 6.3 in 1984 to just 5.2 now. The league sees starting pitchers as key storytellers and prefers them over using many different relievers during games.
Fans might wonder if these changes will really make a difference or just shuffle things around without solving anything.
Some ideas like an innings requirement or the “Double Hook” concept have been tried before but didn’t stick. Manfred leans towards adjusting roster rules so teams can’t treat their pitching staff like interchangeable parts.
The current agreement with players ends after 2026, so this topic might pop up again then—especially if starting roles keep shrinking.
What do you think? Should there be more changes or leave things as they are?
