Major League Baseball unloaded a bundle of rule changes that are to take effect over the course of the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The biggest of the changes come in the form of a dedicated trade deadline. Meaning once the clock strikes midnight on August 1st, deals can no longer be made. Players can still be added via waivers, but talks between teams must end. This means if the Red Sox want to beef up their roster to fill their deficiencies, they’ll need to act quick.
Right off the bat, this is a big thing for baseball as it instantly adds a feeling of urgency.