NEW YORK — Jose Guillen's 15-day suspension was put on hold through Tuesday by Major League Baseball and the players' association, an indication they are nearing an agreement that would eliminate the penalty and toughen the sport's drug rules.

Guillen and Jay Gibbons were suspended Dec. 6 by commissioner Bud Selig following media reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs. Major League Baseball and the players' union announced March 28 they were putting the suspensions of Guillen and Jay Gibbons on hold for 10 days, giving lawyers more time to reach an agreement that would toughen the drug policy.

The players' association has insisted that as part of any drug agreement, players implicated in December's Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs be given amnesty, as the former Senate majority leader suggested.

Lawyers have said for several weeks that the sides are close to a deal, and one said today that the sides have narrowed their differences to wording issues.

Guillen's Kansas City Royals are in the midst of a series against the New York Yankees. Gibbons was released by the Baltimore Orioles on March 30.

Following the suspension, Gibbons admitted receiving human growth hormone in 2005 and apologized. Guillen has not addressed the matter.