While Major League Baseball has had its share of complaints, the notable concerns of 2025 eclipse short-term fixes. A detailed examination reveals five significant issues that have emerged during the early season. On a positive note, only two of these problems relate directly to gameplay, which has demonstrated improvement following years characterized by extended games and the prevalence of the three-true-outcomes phenomenon. The more pressing challenges appear to stem from organizational leadership and their commitment to sustaining competitive teams. Solutions will be proposed for each identified problem.

A pivotal concern arises from a report by Jayson Stark and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, which highlights a reduction in the perceived strike zone in 2025. The basis of this issue does not rest on changes to the rulebook itself but rather in how Major League Baseball evaluates umpire assessments of the strike zone. This development has resulted in umpires being less lenient in their calls, leading to both beneficial and adverse outcomes. Notably, there has been a decrease in strikeouts and an increase in balls in play—the highest frequency since 2018. However, this also creates confusion among hitters and pitchers, with more pitches being called as strikes inside the zone and an elevated walk rate.

To address this problem, implementing the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), recently tested during spring training, presents a viable solution. The system recorded a success rate of 52.2% for ball-strike challenges, and each review averaged a minimal disruption of 13.8 seconds of game time. The expedited nature of bad call rectification proved beneficial, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has indicated plans for ABS to be operational in the coming seasons, pending approval from the Players Association.

Injuries have historically troubled MLB seasons, with specific incidents marking player safety as a paramount concern. One such instance is the collision at first base on April 20 involving Luis Arraez and Mauricio Dubón, resulting in Arraez sustaining a concussion. Shortly after, Romy Gonzalez faced a similar fate due to another collision. While it is essential not to overstate the issue's prevalence without substantial data, first base collisions continuously present a risk that merits enhancement in safety measures. Although the base has been enlarged to promote injury prevention, additional solutions can still be implemented.

One potential remedy is the adoption of a double-sided first base bag, a concept utilized in both slow-pitch softball and college baseball. This alternative establishes separate bases for the runner and the first baseman while the baseline divides the two. San Diego Padres manager Mike Schildt expressed support for this innovation after witnessing the injuries on the field. Given that the double-sided bag would not disrupt the flow of the game, it could serve as a straightforward mechanism to mitigate injury risks at first base.

Turning to organizational policies, the current collective bargaining agreement established in 2022 includes Prospect Promotion Incentives (PPIs). These incentives were designed to encourage teams to advance their top prospects through early promotions by rewarding teams with additional draft picks if their rookie wins the Rookie of the Year award. Examples include Julio Rodríguez, who clinched a PPI draft pick for the Seattle Mariners in 2022 after making the Opening Day roster, and the pick being utilized on Jonny Farmelo, now a top-100 prospect.

However, concerns remain as certain teams continue to postpone promoting high-potential players, motivated by service-time considerations. Instances involving Paul Skenes last season and ongoing debates regarding Roman Anthony and Bubba Chandler highlight this persistent issue. To deter teams from exploiting service-time manipulations, especially after unfavorable outcomes like Skenes’ timeline, a review of PPIs may be needed. One proposal is to broaden the incentive structure by offering draft-related bonuses for players who place within the top three of Rookie of the Year voting, thus encouraging teams to promote burgeoning talent more readily.

A glaring issue in the league emerges from the Colorado Rockies, who are poised to potentially establish a record for the most losses in a single season. Their abysmal 9-45 record through 54 games reflects an alarming trend within MLB, as this third consecutive year of a struggling team highlights ongoing competitive discrepancies. The Chicago White Sox notched a modern record of 121 losses last season, while the Oakland Athletics previously exemplified similar struggles the year prior. The Rockies' performance underscores a troubling narrative regarding persistence in ineffectiveness among certain franchises.

In an ideal legislative framework, a relegation and promotion system akin to that of the English Premier League would maintain competitive integrity. However, the challenges of implementing such a system within MLB suggest it is unlikely to materialize. To encourage accountability, implementing fines for excessive losses could serve as a corrective measure. A proposed structure would introduce penalties for teams accumulating 100 losses, with increasing fines for every subsequent loss. This could involve a significant raise beyond the current $5 million maximum fine and could restrict repeated offenders—such as the Rockies, who faced similar challenges in previous seasons—from participating in the draft lottery as a punitive measure.

Despite the Rockies' troubles, competitive balance appears relatively stable throughout the league, with no teams reaching 100 wins in the 2024 season. Nevertheless, concerns over a stark payroll disparity remain a topic of discussion. The Los Angeles Dodgers, with a luxury-tax payroll surpassing the combined amounts of the bottom four teams, exemplify the financial chasm present in the league. Notably, half of MLB teams do not even match half of the Dodgers' spending. While financial investment is not the sole pathway to victory, historical playoff representation underscores its significance, as evidenced by the representation of top spenders in recent postseason runs.

In addressing this disparity, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred implies that the fault lies within the structural financial environment rather than the teams themselves. Reports from CNBC have indicated discussions regarding the potential introduction of a salary cap in upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. However, this prospect may face significant opposition from the Players Association, especially if bonuses for lower spending teams do not adequately offset limits on larger market franchises. Suggestions put forth by analysts such as Maury Brown include increasing revenue-sharing through larger luxury-tax penalties and expanding shared revenue models via streaming bundles, creating a more unified financial landscape for the league.

Ultimately, implementing accountability measures for team owners responsible for prolonged poor performance could drastically change the league's competitive landscape. A threshold mechanism mandating ownership changes after a series of consecutive years with bottom-tier payrolls and records could usher in a new era of responsibility. Despite being a high hurdle, aspirational measures in this respect could foster improvements in baseball for the future.