Major League Baseball is set to hold its Opening Day series, signifying the start of the 2014 season.

Many things have changed this past off-season, from big names changing teams to new rules and even new technologies that will be used to help the game.

Let’s start with some big names who have changed teams.  Former Yankees’ second baseman Robinson Cano signed a ten year, $240 million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners. Hunter Pence cashed in with a five year, $90 million dollar deal to play outfield for the Giants. Curtis Granderson signed a four year deal with the Mets. The Yankees signed a few big names, including Brian McCann from the Braves, Jacoby Ellsbury from the Red Sox, Carlos Beltran from the Cardinals, and Masahiro Tanaka from Japan.

The MLB Players Association was set out to change the ruling on collisions at home plate. Before it changed this off-season, there was no rule on collisions and many catchers were getting injured because of players crashing into them trying to break up a play at the plate. Just as recently as 2012, Giants’ catcher Buster Posey was knocked out for most of the season with a horrific ankle injury caused in a collision at the plate. Now, the rule states that a runner cannot leave the direct path of the baseline in order to initiate contact, and can also be called out by an umpire if the umpire rules the collision unnecessary.

Will changes in Major League Baseball make for a good 2014 season? (Editorial)

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Instant replay has been circling around the rumor mill in the MLB for years. Some said it would take the umpire almost completely out of any controversial call. Some believed it was the best thing that could happen to baseball. For the past few seasons, managers were allowed one challenge of any ball that was deemed a home run that they believed was not and vice versa. Starting this spring training, managers were allowed one challenge on almost any call they thought was wrong, and if they got it right, they were awarded one more challenge in the game. The MLB has implemented a central headquarters so when a manager uses a challenge, the umpires can contact the headquarters and get the right call.

Overall, this off-season has been a very busy one for the whole league, and many are excited for the start of the new season, which will crown a champion in the World Series beginning October 22.