The Seibu Lions, added prefecture name "Saitama" in front of the team name from this season.
As to reduce the interference to teams that main players will be playing in the Olympic games. This year's deadline of trade and new foreign players are pushed to end of July, instead of end of June. Also, teams having more than three peoples selected by National teams will be given an extra quota of foreign player limit during the Olympic Games.
The postseason playoff ("Climax Series")'s regulation have changed to give more advantages to League Champions, now the second stage series will play for 6 games, while the League Champion will have a 1-win advantage.
In late June, the Free Agency regulation is amended after neogiation between the players committee and owners. Players are now eilable for FA in 8 playing years (145 days in active roster), previously players needs 9 playing years to obtain the FA right.
Note: Whenever multiple teams have same number of wins, the team having better standings in last year's interleague game will have advantage, thus Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks wins the interleague title, despite Hanshin Tigers has beaten Hawks 3 out of 4 games, similar rule applies to other teams tied in wins.
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