By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Opening Day is less than three weeks away, and the Philadelphia Phillies — who sport the best spring training winning percentage — continue their preparations.
In the latest edition of "Phillies Spring Training Notes," we look at MLB's agreements with the Atlantic and Mexican Baseball leagues, Bryce Harper's Phillies debuts, signings, discussed rule changes, and more.
MLB Experimenting Rule Changes
Major League Baseball will explore potential future rule changes, including "robot umpires," this year in the Atlantic League. Among the experimented changes, ESPN's Jeff Passan notes, will be:
- Using a TrackMan radar system to help umpires call balls and strikes
- Extending the distance between the pitching rubber from 60 feet, 6 inches to 62 feet, 6 inches in the second half of the season
- Mandating that two infielders are on each side of the second-base bag when a pitch is released, with the penalty being a ball
- A three-batter minimum for pitchers — a rule MLB and the MLB Players Association are considering for the 2020 season as they near an agreement on a smaller set of changes
- No mound visits, other than for pitching changes or injuries
- Increasing the size of first, second and third base from 15 inches to 18 inches
- Reducing the time between innings and pitching changes from 2 minutes, 5 seconds to 1 minute, 45 seconds
The two leagues announced their three-year partnership, on February 26, to implement changes to Atlantic League playing rules to "observe the effects of potential future rule changes and equipment in the majors."
Harper Slated for Phillies Debuts
Bryce Harper will make his Phillies debut on Saturday, home against the Toronto Blue Jays, as a designated hitter. Two days later, he will make his fielding debut in right field, home against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, March 11. Harper will make one-to-two plate appearances in each contest, notes The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro.
Phillies Sign Son of Former MVP, Six-Time All-Star
Last Saturday, the Phillies signed 17-year-old Miguel Tejada Jr., son of six-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and 2002 American League MVP, Miguel Tejada. Tejada Jr. signed for $60,000.
The Phillies have signed 17-year-old Miguel Tejada Jr.
Video from when I saw him play in the DPL: https://t.co/szqBmjczr9 pic.twitter.com/H5Kjtln5pN
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) March 2, 2019
Player Transfer Agreement with Mexican Baseball League
MLB, with approval of the MLB Players Association, recently announced a two-year player transfer agreement with the Mexican Baseball League (LMB), the first such agreement ever reached between the leagues.
LMB players under contact will be eligible to sign with any MLB club the offseason after the player qualifies as a "Foreign Professional" (at least 25 years old and six or more years of professional baseball experience abroad).
MLB has a similar agreement with NPB (Japan), KBO (Korea), CPBL (Taiwan) and FCB (Cuba).
"All-Star Election Day" Among Discussed CBA Changes
Among "sweeping changes" likely soon to be made to the collective bargaining agreement, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, are planning to "overhaul All-Star voting and create an Election Day for fans to pick the starters," according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
If agreed, online voting would occur this season, with the top three vote-getters at each position in each league to be placed on the Election Day ballot, according to Passan. Players receiving the most votes on Election Day would determine the All-Star starters.
MLB and the MLBPA view Election Day as an opportunity to "better engage fans," "bring more excitement to the All-Star voting process," and "encourage an uptick in social media activity surrounding the game."
Other discussed changes to the CBA include: increasing prize money for Home Run Derby participants, expansion of rosters to 26 players with a 13-pitcher limit, and a three-batter-minimum rule for pitchers "to be implemented in 2020," Passan notes, adding "MLB and the union also are committing to discuss more complicated economic issues in the midst of the current agreement, which runs through December 2021, and potentially extend the deal."
Former Phillies Update
- RHP Clay Buchholz signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The 12-year veteran and 2013 World Series champion made just two starts with the Phillies in 2017 due to a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.
- INF Howie Kendrickwas recently diagnosed with a mild strain in his left hamstring; he will be sidelined at least 10 to 12 days, but is optimistic he will be ready for Opening Day. Kendrick appeared in 39 games with the Phillies in 2017, before being dealt to the Washington Nationals, the team he remains with today.
- LHP Cole Hamels said "Hell no!" when asked if he will retire after the 2019 season. The 2008 World Series MVP said his goal is to pitch until he's 45, noting he "played with Jamie Moyer." The 13-year veteran turned 35 in December.
- Retired 1B Ryan Howard recently reached a multi-year agreement with ESPN to serve as a Baseball Tonight; he will also regularly appear on SportsCenter, Get Up!, ESPN Radio and other prominent ESPN platforms.
- Catcher Cameron Rupp was traded on Friday, from the San Francisco Giants, to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. Rupp was in Giants camp as a non-roster invitee; he slots in on the Tigers catching depth chart behind Grayson Greiner and John Hicks. Philly.c0m's David Murphy notes the Tigers are Rupp's fifth big-league organization since the Phillies released him, 11 months ago.
Previous "Phillies Spring Training Notes":
- February 20: Early Rotation, Herrera Injured, Lidge, Top Prospects List
- February 16: 'Open Competition,' Eickhoff, New Cap
