Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing a series of systemic issues that extend beyond the game itself, marking the early part of the 2025 season with complexities that cannot be addressed overnight. While the actual quality of the game is in a relatively good state, following years of concerns about extended game lengths and the prevalence of three-true-outcomes outcomes, the larger issues revolve around organizational practices and the competitive landscape. This article delves into five critical problems currently affecting the league, accompanied by potential solutions.

One significant issue highlighted by recent reports from industry insiders, including Jayson Stark and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, is the apparent shrinking of the strike zone in 2025. While the fundamental rules governing the strike zone have not changed, how MLB evaluates umpires' perceptions of the zone has shifted. Umpires have been less lenient with their calls, resulting in a confusing situation for hitters and pitchers alike. The unintended consequences include an increase in walk rates and fluctuations in gameplay dynamics, despite the reduction in strikeouts and an uptick in balls in play since 2018. A proposed solution is the implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which showed promising results during spring training by effectively decreasing the number of erroneous calls made by umpires. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic about incorporating the ABS system for regular-season games in the near future, pending agreement from the MLB Players Association.

In addition to the strike zone concerns, player safety is at the forefront of discussions, particularly regarding injuries resulting from collisions at first base. High-profile incidents, such as the collision between Luis Arraez of the Miami Marlins and Mauricio Dubón of the Houston Astros, have raised alarms within the league. Although the first base bag was redesigned to reduce injury risks, it appears that more can be done to protect players. A potential solution is to adopt a double-sided first base bag, a practice already utilized in slow-pitch softball and college baseball. Implementing this safety measure may significantly decrease injuries from collisions, as it offers separate bases for runners and fielders, thereby reducing the risk.

The topic of player promotion strategies has stirred debate since the introduction of the Prospect Promotion Incentives in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement. Designed to encourage teams to promote top prospects to the major leagues earlier in their careers, this incentive system has yielded mixed results. While players such as Julio Rodríguez have reaped benefits from early promotions, others, like Paul Skenes, Roman Anthony, and Bubba Chandler, have faced the potential of delayed advancement due to concerns about service time manipulation. One possible resolution is to enhance the incentives associated with Prospect Promotion by expanding draft pick rewards beyond Rookie of the Year winners to include players who rank highly in the voting, promoting a culture where teams are encouraged to bring their best talent to the forefront sooner.

Compounding the aforementioned issues, the Colorado Rockies have faced widespread scrutiny due to their abysmal start to the 2025 season, with a record of 9-45 through the first 54 games. This performance not only casts a negative light on the organization but also raises questions about the competitive balance within MLB. The Rockies are among the teams that have struggled significantly in recent seasons, a trend that has led to calls for greater accountability measures for franchises that consistently dominate the bottom of the standings. One proposed strategy includes implementing a financial penalty system for teams that reach an excessive number of losses in a season, akin to the concept of relegation seen in other sports leagues. Such measures could motivate teams to prioritize competitiveness and avoid excessive losing streaks.

Lastly, while competitive balance among teams is relatively satisfactory this year, the stark disparity in payrolls remains a point of concern. For instance, the Los Angeles Dodgers' luxury-tax payroll dwarfs that of several teams, with their spending exceeding that of the bottom four teams combined. Historically, teams with higher payrolls tend to perform better, as evidenced by the participation of the top spenders in the latter stages of the playoffs. To bridge this gap, potential solutions could involve re-evaluating revenue sharing mechanisms or introducing salary cap structures in future collective bargaining discussions. Ensuring that teams prioritizing investment in player development and competitiveness receive support may help level the playing field, fostering a fair and exhilarating competitive landscape across the league.