Report: MLB taking 2020 proposal to players after owners approve

Major League Baseball owners have approved the league's proposal for the delayed 2020 season, and the plan will now be presented to the players' association, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

The proposal calls for a shortened schedule consisting of about 82 regular-season games, though it's negotiable depending on approval from the players and health data, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

MLB and the union are expected to meet Tuesday, though both sides have been informally speaking for weeks, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. If a deal is reached, the new season reportedly could start in the first week of July.

It's believed the league and MLBPA need to overcome two key hurdles to reach an agreement: making players comfortable with protocols, personnel, and equipment in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and agreeing on how players will be paid.

The league's proposal calls for a 50-50 revenue split between teams and players, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports.

The plan would also see 30-man rosters with a 20-man taxi squad to provide depth, reports Sherman.

Some of the ideas that were reportedly tabled include:

• A regional schedule where teams only play games against their division and the same geographic division in the opposite league
• Teams opening their seasons in as many home parks as possible
• Expanding the postseason from five teams to seven in each league
• Reducing player salaries
• Various medical protocols

The implementation of a universal designated hitter was also reportedly included.

The league and union reached a deal in late March on how to play out the 2020 campaign. However, it's believed the league became fearful of losing revenue from fans being unable to attend games.