DUNEDIN, FL – Major League Baseball announced today a groundbreaking new policy, informally dubbed the 'Optional Fun' clause, which formally enshrines players' right to skip spring training games deemed 'too much effort.' The move comes after a recent Blue Jays-Tigers exhibition saw a notable absence of 'regulars,' prompting an internal review into the fundamental question of 'who wants to work on a Saturday?'

“We understand that sometimes the bus ride to Lakeland just isn’t worth it, especially when you’re already a multi-millionaire,” stated MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, speaking from a yacht anchored somewhere off the coast of Florida. “Our players are highly compensated professionals, and frankly, if they don’t feel like pretending to care about a game that doesn’t count, who are we to force them?”

The new clause allows any player to opt out of an exhibition game if it involves 'excessive travel,' 'unfavorable weather,' or 'a general lack of personal motivation.' Team managers are now encouraged to submit daily rosters with a new 'Enthusiasm Quotient' metric, where a score below 3 out of 10 automatically triggers the 'Optional Fun' protocol.

“It’s a game-changer,” said veteran infielder 'Slacker' Johnson, who reportedly spent Saturday perfecting his golf swing instead of playing. “Before, you had to fake a hamstring tweak. Now, I can just text 'nah' and go back to my avocado toast. It’s about player wellness, really.”

Critics argue the policy could undermine the integrity of spring training, but league sources insist it merely formalizes a long-standing, unspoken tradition.

Fans, meanwhile, are reportedly thrilled at the prospect of paying full price to watch AAA prospects and a rotating cast of 'guys who just really like baseball.'