Major League Baseball could be taking its time with the pitch clock.
In an effort to reach some common ground with the players' union on rule changes, the league has made a proposal to the MLBPA that would eliminate the implementation of a pitch clock until 2022, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The proposal, however, also includes the ability to implement a three-batter minimum and change roster sizes in 2020, as well as a single July 31 trade deadline, shorter inning breaks, fewer mound visits and limits on position players pitching.
It does not include a universal designated hitter, nor a rule addressing some of the economic issues within the game, which the MLBPA had counter-proposed to the league earlier this winter.
Yet pushing the pitch clock to 2022 would shelve the issue until after the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2021.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has been pushing for a pitch clock in recent years and the league has already implemented a 20-second clock for Spring Training games as part of a trial period.
