4 rule changes MLB needs to make this offseason

The 2015 GM meetings begin Monday in Boca Raton, Fla., and several items will be on the agenda as all 30 GMs put their heads together to discuss a variety of topics.

The labor agreement between Major League Baseball and its players' association will be front and center in those discussions with the current basic agreement set to expire following the 2016 season, but several rule changes will also be debated.

Second-base collisions will surely be a hot topic after Chase Utley fractured Ruben Tejada's fibula with an illegal takeout slide in the NLDS. The pressure will be on all parties, including new commissioner Rob Manfred, to devise a plan to protect middle infielders.

Here are four more rules changes that should also warrant consideration:

Replay abolished on pop-up slides

Instant replay has certainly been beneficial to the game, but it's going too far in regards to pop-up slides. On numerous occasions this season, a baserunner was called out for temporarily coming off the bag despite easily beating a throw to the base. No play demonstrates this better than Alex Rios' swipe of second base in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Rios came off the bag for a split second while he shuffled his feet, and replay overturned the initial safe call. This is not the kind of play replay was intended for, and it presents a safety issue for the players. Every year dozens of big leaguers succumb to injuries while running the bases, especially while sliding into the bag. The continuation of this abuse of replay privileges will force players to eliminate the pop-up slide and opt for much riskier tactics. The solution is simple: Replay can't overturn a call in instances when a base is clearly stolen. - Greg Warren

Universal DH

Any engaged Mariners fan would probably admit that seeing Jesus Sucre's name on the lineup card often elicits an exasperated sigh, or even a stream of expletives. Since his 2013 debut, after all, Sucre has gotten out in nearly 80 percent of his plate appearances. This season, he hit .157/.195/.228 in 52 games. Still, he was so much better at the plate than the average pitcher, because - according to science - pitchers can't hit. At all. And watching them try and fail isn't entertaining, notwithstanding a handful of exceptions.

Most rhetoric against the designated hitter, meanwhile, revolves around the notion that making the pitcher hit forces managers to flex their tactical muscles by occasionally presenting them with the following dilemma: Do I remove my starter for a pinch-hitter late in a close, even if he's dealing and not showing signs of fatigue? This isn't really the existential qualm it's made out to be. If there's a run-scoring opportunity, take him out; if not, leave him in. And in particularly agonizing cases, err on the side of caution and take him out. In all likelihood, there's probably someone down in the bullpen with a 98-mph fastball and a strikeout rate above 25 percent who's ready to go in.

MLB relievers, 2005 vs. 2015

At the very least, the "strategy" argument is flimsy, while forcing pitchers to hit exposes them to unnecessary injury risks. A pitcher breaking his hand at the plate would be like a position player pulling a hamstring while trying to assist the grounds crew. It's just senseless, really, and with all due respect to Madison Bumgarner, the National League needs the DH. - Jonah Birenbaum

Best-of-7 Division Series

More baseball is every fan's dream, and a good place to start would be MLB's postseason division series.

In the current five-game set, there are opportunities being lost to bring more entertainment value to viewers salivating for added postseason baseball, while extra advertising dollars vanish.

The wild-card series, though just one game, was an idea that has flourished because of the extra dramatic value it bring to television with it being a one and done scenario, so why not make things a little more interesting with a seven-game division series? This allows the possibility of more games, and more chances for each side to win. Sounds like a win-win.

Yes, scheduling would have to be altered, which can be tricky, and the baseball season is already long enough for some, but the best-of-seven series works in the NHL, and it would work in MLB. - Bryan Mcwilliam

More camera angles for replay review

As MLB continues to work out the kinks regarding its new replay system, the overall results have made it a beneficial advancement. Replay has taken some of the human error out of a game that had often been criticized for being unwilling to adapt, while bringing more accuracy to some of the game's biggest moments. The league has shown a willingness to adapt through each year since replay was introduced, and that evolution should develop into several more adjustments heading into next season.

With so much riding on the results of individual plays, a better investment needs to be made to make some plays more conclusive. More cameras, or placing those in existence at better angles, would create less gray area. Cameras pointed directly down each foul line would allow a quick fix when deciding borderline home runs. Additional cameras pointing toward the bases from different angles would help in cases where a runner might see his foot come off the bag, like Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor's controversial play during the ALCS.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

Many players and managers have no problem when a play is over turned, but the issue is when a play is deemed inconclusive. More camera angles could help alleviate some of the guess work, and if a call is still ruled inconclusive, the league could implement a rule that allows the team to retain its challenge, as there is not definitive evidence to rule on the call. While the main priority of the league is to continue to speed the game up, getting every play correct should be of the greatest of importance. - Brandon Wile