2026 PROPOSALS GOING TO GENERAL ELECTION

R-USE USAGE REQUIREMENT PROPOSAL #2

Proposal to go to a vote:

Current Rule: Usage Free Agency

1. 1. 1. After the MWBL Season Ends, all players who have not met the Regular Season usage requirements will be released from their teams and placed in the Rule 5 Draft.
         1. Position Players with 75 PA or greater during the MLB season who do not reach 50% of their MLB usage during the MWBL Regular Season are released.
            1.  Plate Appearances are always rounded up.
      2. Pitchers with 20 IP or greater during the MLB season who do not reach 50% of their MLB batters faced during the MWBL Regular Season are released.
         1.  Batters Faced are always rounded up.

Proposed Change:

Batters

• Fewer than 100 MLB PAs: No required usage
• 100+ MLB PA: Required MWBL usage increased from 50% to 60% of MLB plate appearances

Pitchers

• Fewer than 20.0 MLB IP: No required usage and not playoff eligible
• 20.0+ MLB IP: Required MWBL usage increased from 50% to 60% of MLB batters faced

All plate appearances and batters faced will continue to be rounded up when calculating usage requirements.

Rationale: We believe this change will promote greater player movement, create more opportunities for teams seeking usable talent, and encourage owners to make active roster decisions throughout the season. With league contraction, teams will be better able to stockpile players with high plate appearances and batters faced while using only their minimums, limiting those players’ availability to other teams and forcing them to rely on less productive alternatives. If a player is not part of your plans, this change is intended to provide greater incentive to trade him rather than simply hold him on your roster.

The goal is not to punish owners, but to improve player availability across the league, reduce talent hoarding, and create a healthier competitive balance. Teams that can use players should have a better opportunity to acquire them, while teams that cannot use players are encouraged to move those assets rather than stockpile them.

By increasing the usage threshold from 50% to 60%, we believe more players will remain active contributors across the league, helping keep the player pool moving and rewarding active roster management.