PRO SPORTS PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE RETURNS

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Major League Baseball expects to offer a return-to-play proposal to the MLB Players Association within a week, as teams have begun to encourage players to prepare for a "spring" training that could begin in mid-June and a season that could start in early July.

Although a significant number of hurdles remain and some industry leaders believe June and July return dates are overly optimistic, ownership's approval of a plan and dialogue about specifics with the union would mark two vital steps toward baseball's return.

General Managers and managers from at least a dozen teams have reached out to players to suggest that they ramp up baseball activities. Some teams have suggested that players prepare for a spring training that could begin as early as June 10 and a season that could begin July 1.

NBA

NBA commissioner Adam Silver and National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts will host a call for all players tomorrow.

That's the same day the league has permitted teams to reopen practice facilities for voluntary, social-distanced workouts in areas where that has been permitted by local public health officials.

The call with Silver and Roberts is intended to be an open forum for players to address any concerns or ask any questions they have, sources said.

Three teams -- Portland, Denver and Cleveland plan to reopen tomrrow, while several other teams said they hope to open next week. The Rockets had planned to open their facility tomorrow but reconsidered in collaboration with players and staff as well as Gov. Greg Abbott's directive for gyms not to open until May 18.

NFL

The NFL laid out protocols Wednesday for the gradual reopening of team facilities, a process that would begin with select staff members and eventually expand to include players.

Team facilities have been closed since March, but as state and local governments begin easing restrictions, the league wants teams to be ready to implement the first phase of protocols by May 15.

The first group of employees allowed back into facilities would include no more than 50% of non-player staff, and up to a total of 75 per day. The only players permitted to return would be those who were already rehabilitating injuries prior to the facility closures.

The league is working with the NFL Players Association to finalize a second phase that would allow players to return.