# MLB Hot Stove / Offseason / Lockout 2021-2022 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [October 15, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531 "2021-10-15T02:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![ThatCanadianGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ThatCanadianGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatCanadianGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/301 "2022-03-12T21:13:57Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > As of now, unvaccinated players won’t be allowed into Canada. [Unvaccinated MLB players won’t be allowed into Canada to play Blue Jays | CBC Sports](https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/unvaccinated-mlb-players-not-able-to-travel-to-canada-1.6381612) I don’t see that as a problem, it wasn’t last year. The Jays played the last two months of the season in Toronto and I don’t recall any player who was left behind. But maybe RickJay remembers something I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/302 "2022-03-12T21:24:33Z")
There was an exemption for athletes that was rescinded by Canada on January 15th. The new rule is part of the CBA and expires after the 2022 season. > **[Unvaccinated MLB players won't be paid for missed games in Canada](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/reports-unvaccinated-mlb-players-wont-be-paid-for-missed-games-in-canada/)** > > Unvaccinated Major League Baseball players will not be able to play at Rogers Centre and won't be paid for missed time this season. It will be slightly interesting to see who winds up on the restricted list. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/303 "2022-03-14T13:27:06Z")
I read yesterday that Joe Maddon is requesting some clarification on the new DH rule to see if Ohtani can, in fact, DH for himself now. Frankly, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/304 "2022-03-14T13:38:39Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > There was an exemption for athletes that was rescinded by Canada on January 15th. The new rule is part of the CBA and expires after the 2022 season. > > [Unvaccinated MLB players won't be paid for missed games in Canada](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/reports-unvaccinated-mlb-players-wont-be-paid-for-missed-games-in-canada/) > > It will be slightly interesting to see who winds up on the restricted list. The Red Sox are looking at the possibility of not having Chris Sale and Xander Bogaerts available for the 10 games they play in Toronto, among others. Maybe fans can organize a truck convoy to encircle the ball park in protest. Perhaps losing paychecks will persuade some ballplayers not to pull a Kyrie Irving. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/305 "2022-03-14T14:09:15Z")
Fairly big trade between Yanks & Twins. **Yankees get:** 3B Josh Donaldson {36}, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa {26}, C Ben Rortvedt {23} **Twins get:** C Gary Sánchez {29}, INF Gio Urshela {30} I’m still trying to analyze this. * * * So at the moment, Yanks have minimal expectations at Catcher for offense. c is probably Rortvedt who is a lefty at least. 1b is likely LeManieu 2b is Torres SS is Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3b is Donaldson The team is still overwhelmingly righty. RF Aaron Judge (R) CF Aaron Hicks (C) if he can stay on the field??? LF Joey Gallo (L) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/306 "2022-03-14T14:40:15Z")
Thrilled that the Yankees finally got rid of Sanchez. He gets hot at the plate for about 3 weeks a year and is a sieve behind the plate for the entire year. I really don’t care if whoever catches isn’t a productive hitter, I just want someone who can keep the ball in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/307 "2022-03-14T14:41:23Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I read yesterday that Joe Maddon is requesting some clarification on the new DH rule to see if Ohtani can, in fact, DH for himself now. Frankly, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to. That doesn’t make any sense, though. If he bats for himself he’s not a DH. Rule 5.11 says: (1) A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher, if any, must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief. If a manager lists 10 players in his team’s lineup card, but fails to indicate one as the Designated Hitter, and an umpire or either manager (or designee of either manager who presents his team’s lineup card) notices the error before the umpire-in-chief calls “Play” to start the game, the umpire-in-chief shall direct the manager who had made the omission to designate which of the nine players, other than the pitcher, will be the Designated Hitter. From this text it seems clear to me the DH isn’t the pitcher. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/308 "2022-03-14T15:21:40Z")
I think the clarification would be whether or not Ohtani can remain in the game as the DH _after_ he has been pulled from his pitching start. The text of the rule assumes that the DH _isn’t_ the pitcher. But it doesn’t exclude it. MLB may be faced with a “this has never come up before” ruling. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/309 "2022-03-14T15:34:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The team is still overwhelmingly righty. Seems like they’re opening the door to sign Rizzo. > [@silenus](#): > > MLB may be faced with a “this has never come up before” ruling. It did come up one other time - the All Star Game last year. They let Ohtani start the game as the pitcher and the DH. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/310 "2022-03-14T16:08:41Z")
They made an exception for Ohtani at the All-Star Game last year. But the rule is clear. 5.11.1(3) > (3) It is not mandatory that a Club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that Club for that game. 5.11.a(10) > (10) Once the game pitcher bats or runs for the Designated Hitter, such move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for that Club for the remainder of the game. I don’t see any ambiguity there at all. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/311 "2022-03-14T16:34:59Z")
I don’t get why the Nats offloaded all kinds of veteran talent last year, only to now sign Nelson Cruz for one year at $15 million. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/312 "2022-03-14T16:53:53Z")
Why can’t Ohtani be the pitcher AND the DH? Two separate positions in the same game. Anyway, not sure how the league will respond, but Maddon just doing the due diligence to see how exactly is the rule changing. ETA: I really think MLB should just let Ohtani pitch and DH separately. They want to grow the game’s popularity? Let guys do what they’re good at. This will likely ever apply to one guy. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/313 "2022-03-14T18:14:51Z")
The game is bigger than one man. Ohtani has plenty of chances to bat. If batting while pitching is that important, then when he leaves the game the Angels can pinch hit for succeeding pitchers or let them bat. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/314 "2022-03-14T18:35:21Z")
Or they could just change the rule about the pitcher batting or running for the DH terminates the DH role for that game. Since it’s now a universal DH, that rule just seems to be a silly anachronism. ---
**Author:** ![ThatCanadianGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ThatCanadianGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatCanadianGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/315 "2022-03-14T19:00:56Z")
Because… they’re two separate positions? You’re saying, why can’t he be the pitcher AND the first baseman. The rule is clear as to the intent of the DH: use it or lose it and you can’t have the same guy be at two positions. As for this will likely ever apply to only one guy, I think there may be a trend to have two-way players like Ohtani. Teams seem to be looking at that direction. There won’t be a ton of course but you might one day see nearly every team with such a player on the roster. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/316 "2022-03-15T02:03:01Z")
The Reds are in teardown mode. After trading away Sonny Gray for a prospect, they’ve now gifted the Mariners with a huge chunk of their offense, getting in return some unspectacular pitching hopefuls, a part-time outfielder with a career .196 average and the much-anticipated player-to-be-named-later. The fan base had to figure this was coming, with GM Nick Krall blowing smoke about eliminating “peaks and valleys” and his goal of a “long-term and sustainable approach”, in other words cutting payroll. After all, you don’t want to disappoint fans by seriously competing for a title for a couple of years and then having to rebuild. Best to simply be lousy consistently. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/317 "2022-03-15T02:06:23Z")
They changed the rules to even ALLOW the DH. Why can’t they change the rules surrounding the DH? > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > They want to grow the game’s popularity? Let guys do what they’re good at. This. 100 times this. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/318 "2022-03-15T02:19:07Z")
The Reds don’t deserve Joey Votto. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/319 "2022-03-15T13:06:28Z")
> [@ThatCanadianGuy](#): > > You’re saying, why can’t he be the pitcher AND the first baseman. No, I’m saying why can’t he be pitcher and DH. If you’re changing the rules to allow for a universal DH, why not change the DH rule entirely so that it makes sense for a player like Ohtani? > [@ThatCanadianGuy](#): > > I think there may be a trend to have two-way players like Ohtani. I hope so. He’s fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531/320 "2022-03-15T21:24:29Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > No, I’m saying why can’t he be pitcher and DH. If you’re changing the rules to allow for a universal DH, why not change the DH rule entirely so that it makes sense for a player like Ohtani? They didn’t change the DH rule. The first sentence says, “Any league may elect to use Rule 5.11(a) which shall be called the Designated Hitter Rule.” So nothing about the rule was changed. The only thing that happened was that the National League elected to use it now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-hot-stove-offseason-lockout-2021-2022/952531.md?page=17)