MLB's owners have reportedly proposed a 76-game season in its latest offer to the players union as the league tries to sort a potential return to action this season.
The proposal would see player salaries prorated at 75 percent, according to Karl Ravech of ESPN, and the regular season and postseason would wrap up close their usual end dates.
The pitch comes amid intensifying pressure on the sides to get a deal done soon. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak recently said the season was increasingly in jeopardy without an agreement in place shortly.
Last week the owners proposed a 50-game season, and the players responded with a 114-game plan.
The league can unilaterally determine the length of the season with prorated salaries, as per the terms of an agreement reached with the players union in March. However, the owners appear intent on renegotiating salaries because of an expected steep decline in attendance, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported.
Players are prepared for at least the possibility of a shortened season mandated by the league, Andy Martino of SNY recently reported, fueling confidence that there will be some kind of 2020 season.