Rob Manfred has pleaded for feedback from the players in the effort to accelerate the pace of play, and the latest proposal on the negotiating table reflects that player sentiment.

Manfred said Major League Baseball is willing to defer implementation of a pitch clock for the 2018 season if the players agree to guidelines designed to reduce the average time of game.

The proposal was sent to the union in the aftermath of a Jan. 23 meeting between representatives from the union and MLB.