MINNEAPOLIS -- A seven-day disabled list for concussions wouldn't have done Aaron Hill much good when the Toronto Blue Jays second baseman missed the final four months of 2008 with the injury.

That didn't stop him from saying the move, and several other guidelines instituted by Major League Baseball on Tuesday, was another positive sign the sport is doing more and more to address concussions.

MLB and the players' union announced a new set of protocols that take effect on opening day to deal with concussions, including the creation of the new seven-day disabled list that should give team doctors and the injured players more flexibility to address head injuries.

"I think it's good they're paying more attention to these things because they're seeing the long-term effects concussions can have on players," Hill said before the Blue Jays played an exhibition game against Baltimore. "Not just baseball, but all sports. So, it's a good thing they're looking into it."

It's the latest in a series of moves by professional sports leagues to address an injury that doctors, players and executives are only beginning to fully understand. The NFL started imposing heavy fines and threatening suspensions for hits that were deemed illegal or dangerous last season. And NHL officials earlier this month recommended tighter enforcement of boarding and charging penalties in an effort to reduce concussions.

The joint statement from MLB and the union establishes mandatory baseline testing for all players and umpires and new steps for evaluating players who may have suffered the injury and for having them return to action.

The new disabled list is in addition to the 15- and 60-day DLs that already exist. Any player needing more than 14 days to recover will automatically be transferred to the 15-day disabled list.

"It really is comporting our disabled lists with the reality of management of concussions," MLB senior vice president of labor Dan Halem said.

Each team will also have to designate a specialist who deals with mild brain injuries to evaluate players and umpires when needed and be required to send its medical reports to Dr. Gary Green, MLB's medical director, for approval before the injured player is cleared to return to the field.

"This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike, and I am proud of the spirit of cooperation that has led us to this result," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

It's a topic that has been on baseball's radar for more than two years, Halem said.

With players such as Hill, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and New York Mets outfielder Jason Bay missing huge chunks of games because of concussions in the last few seasons, baseball officials formed a committee to examine the issue this winter.

"The one thing you don't want to do is put someone in position the day after or two days later all of a sudden by saying, 'Are you feeling OK?' " Morneau said. "The worst thing you can do with a concussion is rush back to play. You're diagnosed and you have a week and if it clears up like most people hope it does and they usually do, with most people it's short-term, that's the best-case scenario."