MLB could implement pitch clock if union rejects latest pace-of-play proposal

As MLB's offseason nears its conclusion, commissioner Rob Manfred is hoping an agreement can be put in place to implement new measures to improve the game's pace of play.

Manfred told reporters Thursday that the league has submitted a proposal to the MLBPA that does not include the addition of a pitch clock, according to USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale.

If the players don't accept, Manfred could unilaterally introduce a pitch clock for 2018, but he said he'd prefer to have the players on board.

"We remain 100 percent committed to the idea that we need to make changes to address the pace of the game," Manfred said. "And the best way to address the pace of game is to get an agreement with the players."

The players' union will have until spring training to accept or reject the deal. Other elements of the proposal include limiting the number of mound visits in 2018 to six per game, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, while also allotting specific times for pitchers to warm up between innings and for hitters to approach home plate, according to ESPN's Buster Olney; the league is also willing to accept the union's proposal to study the feasibility of bullpen carts (with potential implementation in 2018), as well as discuss the reduction of the 30-second replay clock.

Related: MLB objected to union's request for 'manager-blind challenges'

A 20-second pitch clock had been one of the measures considered to help curb longer game times, but was seen as a major roadblock for players who generally opposed an earlier proposal.

One wrinkle Manfred mentioned was that if game times shrink on average to 2:55 or shorter, the pitch clock would remain absent in 2019, as well. The last time MLB games were shorter than that on average was in 2010 when the average game lasted 2:54, according to Baseball Reference. Since 2012, games haven't typically been shorter than three hours.