Report: MLB prepared to accept proposal to bring back bullpen carts

As Major League Baseball and the Players Association try to reach a new deal on pace-of-play rules ahead of the 2018 season, one specific part of the proposal should intrigue pitchers and fans alike across the game.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is considering the union's request to reintroduce bullpen carts as early as this season, according to multiple reports.

Bullpen carts were officially introduced in a game in 1951 by former Chicago White Sox reliever Marv Rotblatt. While a few teams followed in the team`s footsteps, fans and media initially disapproved of the use of carts during games. Still, it took off, and by 1970 carts were all the rage.

By 1980, teams got so wildly creative with the design of their carts that certain pitchers refused to use them to enter games. The trend eventually died down, and was removed from baseball altogether.

On Thursday, Manfred told reporters the league is willing to avoid implementing a pitch clock in 2018 if the length of games lowers to 2:55 or shorter. However, if the MLBPA and Manfred fail to come to an agreement, the commissioner could unilaterally make the pitch clock mandatory this season.