MLB's Pitch: Red Sox Return 4th of July At Empty Fenway Park

BOSTON — The Red Sox could be playing in an empty Fenway Park by the Fourth of July, according to reports. Major League Baseball owners agreed Monday to propose to the players union a shortened, radically different season — but a season nonetheless.

The plan would see spring training begin in June and the regular season start around the weekend of July 4, with baseball returning to empty ballparks, according to The Associated Press.

The season would be 82 games — 80 fewer than the usual 162 — with a schedule revolving around regional proximity. Teams would play their own division and interleague matchups against their National League counterparts. The Red Sox would therefore play their usual American League East opponents, as well as National League East opponents such as the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves.

Four teams would be added to the postseason field, with two extra wild cards in each league, bringing the total number of playoff teams to 14.

The proposal would also make the designated hitter universal, expanding it to the National League for the first time in history. Rosters would be expanded by a few players.

Teams would play in the home ballparks if possible, but if that isn't possible they can play at a neutral site or their spring training home — for the Red Sox, that's Fort Myers, Florida.

The return of baseball still isn't a sure thing. With no fans expected — at least at first — revenue sharing is expected to be a contentious negotiating point.

MLB's proposal is the most detailed look yet at what the return of professional sports may look like. The NFL held its draft virtually and announced a regular season schedule, but there are no details on what play might be like. The NBA and NHL have been paused for two months and have not offered concrete looks at what a return might look like.