From 2023, there will be fewer intra-division clashes

It’s done: since 7 p.m. tonight, the collective agreement has been in effect. The owners voted unanimously to ratify the new labor agreement.

MLB is restarted. Free agents can sign. Teams can trade. Teams can once again promote their players.

There is a big change in the new convention which has fallen between the cracks of the floor, but which is significant: from 2023, there will be fewer intra-division clashes.

Each team will also play a series against the 29 other clubs in the circuit each year, including the 15 teams from the other league. The 29 clubs will not come home, but they will all be on the schedule.

Are we setting the table to ultimately eliminate the National and the American?

With the universal pick hitter, that’s easier to do. It is not done as of 2022 since the calendar is already out.

This will help the big clubs in the big divisions, of course. Playing against less good clubs will help to get wins.

The Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays should be happy…just like the poor Orioles.

For my part, I am not satisfied. 76 clashes with four clubs, I liked that. It felt like destroying your opponent. At the end of the season, you were facing the big division enemies and along the way, there was always a division rival somewhere.

I loved.

That said, seeing all the teams every year won’t be bad either. It won’t be unpleasant, but it will be less magical. And that will take a long way to go.

What do you think?

• The journalists are back in the locker room.

• The season will start on April 7 or 8, depending on the club. For the Blue Jays, it will be Marcus Semien’s return to town. The first duel on the 7th? Boston to New York. That’s why I like 76 games against rivals…

• Will they add spring duels?