The Major League Baseball season is currently facing two major obstacles to begin its 2020 season -- the COVID-19 pandemic and an agreement between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association on the economics of a shortened season.

According to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network, there is belief that both sides will compromise and strike a deal with the league moving away from their 50-50 revenue sharing idea and the players union from receiving their full prorated salary over the course of a shortened season.

Heyman adds that many still see a gap between the two sides but the reason for optimism is an understanding what a cancellation of the season due to economic reasons would do to the sport in the context of a global public health crisis.

Heyman also tweets that clubs' figures suggest they will lose big money this year in any scenario, even if they were to play 82 games and not pay players any salary at all. Owners say they will lose $1.5 billion to $2 billion, while players contest by saying most teams have made big money every year prior to COVID-19.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reports the long-awaited economic proposal will finally be sent to the MLBPA early next week. The league and the union exchanged a health and safety proposal last week, but multiple reports indicate pay discussions are expected to be more contentious.

"While there has been progress on the health-and-safety elements of a return, fundamental disagreements on money endure," Passan wrote.

A March agreement between the MLB and MLBPA established a framework for a shortened 2020 season but does not directly account for revenue lost as a result of fans not being able to attend games, which owners say accounts for roughly 40 per cent of their revenue.

Opening Day was originally scheduled for March 26 before the coronavirus pushed back the start of the season indefinitely.