Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association could be looking at a potential start to their 2020 season as early as May with the backing of several federal health officials, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The season was initially postponed on March 12 after leagues around the world saw evidence of the ruthlessness of this novel coronavirus pandemic, forcing MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to halt operations until further notice. Several days later the season was delayed even further.

MLB released a statement Tuesday morning in the wake of this report, stating that contingency plans have been discussed but no real decisions have been made:

This proposed plan has numerous roadblocks to clear but is the likeliest to work out of all pitches. The league and leaders of the MLBPA have kept the possibility of a potential return afloat with the backing of federal officials.

If the plan comes to fruition, baseball would be the first sport to return after every sport met a huge hurdle with the pandemic.

The league and the union plan to have all 30 teams play games at stadiums with no fans in the greater Phoenix area. Among them is the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field, 10 spring training facilities and other nearby fields.

Players, coaching staffs and other essential personnel would be kept at nearby hotels and live in relative isolation, traveling only to and from the stadium.

MLB has had the backing from federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Institutes of Health so long as all involved can adhere to strict isolation and promote social distancing.

This proposal is potentially feasible due to the vast distance between players on the field and the solitary nature of the offense in baseball, though dugout life would have to meet changes to make social distancing work.

Some officials believe a June Opening Day could be more realistic, but the key to making this a reality is a significant increase in coronavirus tests with quick turnaround time, allowing to eliminate doubt about anyone who could have been infected. Those familiar with the plan think that could happen by early May, meaning MLB tests won’t take away the access for the general public.

Still, there are other issues in play, such as putting players in effective isolation away for four to five months when they’re not playing games. This could still be a long shot right now, but these two sides are going to do what they can to salvage a season.