MLB plans to reveal return-to-play proposal in the next week

Major League Baseball is reportedly finalizing a return-to-play proposal that they are planning to present to the MLB Players Association in the next week. The plan could involve "spring training" starting as early as mid-June, with Opening Day on July 1.

The plan seems to be gaining serious momentum, as managers and general managers from over a dozen teams have apparently reached out to players to encourage them to start preparing for the season. And while there was initially talk of all 30 teams playing games in Arizona, owners now favor teams playing in their own home ballparks.

Of course, a proposal doesn't mean that baseball is coming back, as the league would still face a lot of obstacles while trying to start the season, including push back from owners and players who feel the timeline is unrealistic. After all, the majority of states are still on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And even if the plan is approved, there are still plenty of logistical questions that will need to be answered, including how many games will be played in this shortened season. It is widely expected that the season will run between 80-100 games but that has been mostly speculation. There are also reports of contingency plans that would make the season even shorter to avoid potentially being shut down due to a second-wave of coronavirus that many experts are predicting will hit at some point in the fall.

Still, even with all of the obvious concerns, it's hard not to get excited about the idea of sports coming back into our lives, assuming that the MLB is able to ensure the safety of its players. And with a reported All-NBA player call happening on Friday, perhaps basketball won't be far behind in plotting its own comeback.