Report: MLB planning changes to All-Star selection with 'election day'

Major League Baseball plans to introduce an extra step to All-Star selection this season with a new "election day" to determine the starters at each position, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Standard online voting would still take place under the new format. Once finished, the top three vote-getters at each position would be placed on a new ballot from which fans would then vote again during a single day to decide who starts at his respective position.

This proposed alteration is reportedly part of the sweeping changes being discussed by MLB and the MLB Players Association regarding the current collective bargaining agreement. These include roster expansion to 26 players with a 13-pitcher limit and a three-batter minimum for pitchers for the 2020 season.

Another new wrinkle being discussed is the possibility of increasing prize money to the Home Run Derby to entice top talent to take part.

The reasoning behind this change is apparently to engage with fans more effectively and drum up excitement for the Midsummer Classic, especially on social media.