Pace of play in mind, MLB announces new rules for 2017

With roughly a month until Opening Day, Major League Baseball and the players' union jointly announced Thursday a slew of new rules for the 2017 campaign designed to improve pace of play, including a no-pitch intentional walk and time limits for replay reviews.

These changes include the following:

• The introduction of a no-pitch intentional walk, allowing the defensive team's manager to signal a decision to the home plate umpire to intentionally walk the batter. Following the signal of the manager's intention, the umpire will immediately award first base to the batter.

• A 30-second time limit for a manager to decide whether to challenge a play and invoke a replay review.

• When a manager has exhausted his challenges for the game, crew chiefs may invoke replay review for non-home-run calls beginning in the eighth inning instead of the seventh inning.

• A conditional two-minute guideline for replay officials to render a decision on a replay review, allowing various exceptions.

• A prohibition on the use of any markers on the field that could create a tangible reference system for fielders.

• An addition to Rule 5.07 formalizes an umpire interpretation by stipulating that a pitcher may not take a second step towards home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is at least one runner on base, then such an action will be called as a balk under Rule 6.02(a). If the bases are unoccupied, then it will be considered an illegal pitch under 6.02(b).

• An amendment to Rule 5.03 requires base coaches to position themselves behind the line of the coach's box closest to home plate and the front line that runs parallel to the foul line prior to each pitch. Once a ball is put in play, a base coach is allowed to leave the coach's box to signal a player so long as the coach does not interfere with play.

Some players, including reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant and four-time All-Star Russell Martin, remain unenthused about pitchless intentional walks, but Manfred has resolved to improve game time - which averaged three hours, 26 seconds in 2016, according to ESPN - since replacing Bud Selig two years ago.

"I will say that pace of play is an issue that we need to be focused on," Manfred said earlier this month. "And the 'we' there is players, owners, umpires …everyone who is invested in this game.