Leagues could also gain or lose a large number of teams, with the Triple-A International League growing to 20 teams and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League shrinking to just 10 teams. TIM BRADY: So one small change to a local economy like this, which is really a living organism, affects much broader than just right there within the stadium. Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Tim Brady says it's not just those who work at the stadium who will be affected. Now, rounding out his repertoire is key. Seven Cubs pitchers combined on this gem against the Padres. "They did the absolute rock-bottom minimum that they could. Major League Baseballs proposal included a significant reorganization of leagues and even levels in an effort to bring the most geographic cohesion. It's almost guaranteed, though, not to be the attraction it has been, at least not without a major league affiliate. They leave behind two California League championships, an alumni roster that includes World Series champions Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and Kik Hernandez, and an Antelope Valley. Here are the 42 teams ticketed to be removed from the affiliated minor leagues in Major League Baseballs proposal. From our reporting, who is on and off of the list has continued to change. Low-A: Lake Elsinore Storm, Phillies "We had no clue what we were going to do at that point.". High-A: Beloit Snappers All rights reserved. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device. Low-A: Daytona Tortugas, Red Sox Complete List of 42 Minor League Teams That Would Be Eliminated Under Proposed MLB Realignment By Jerry Trotta | Nov 18, 2019 New York Yankees v Detroit Tigers / Mark Cunningham/Getty Images The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) between Major League Baseball and minor league teams expires at the end of the 2020 season. The teams are listed by Divisions and in Alphabetical order . Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. As reported prior, MLB has been looking to control more of their prospect pipeline, address issues with travel and ballpark concerns, while also cutting the number of affiliates from 162 to an eventual 120. Before, major league clubs had to renew agreements with affiliates every two to four years, sometimes ending up with geographical nightmares like the one the New York Mets had for six seasons when their Triple-A team was 2,500 miles away in Las Vegas. Major League Baseball's decision to eliminate 40 minor league teams is angering residents. As was the financial value that came with owning an affiliated team. Low-A: Carolina Mudcats, Cardinals They could have at least waited until they expanded to 32 teams (which I believe they will eventually) before doing this to reduce the number of cities losing teams. The issue has become politicized. List of defunct and relocated major league franchises since 1892 National, American, and Federal League franchises. This list is highly preliminary, and Baseball America had heard rumors of other teams being on the list earlier in the process. The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which had governed the minors since 1901, is closing down, and the minors will be run from MLB's office in New York under the supervision of Peter Woodfork, MLB's new senior vice president of minor league operations and development. Three other squads from West. Double-A: Frisco Rough Riders We go over the teams who have been eliminated from playoff contention this season. The plaintiffs also filed a federal lawsuit in December challenging MLB's antitrust exemption. Double-A: Midland Rock Hounds Randy Levine, president of the Yankees, says Nostalgic turned down MLB's offer for an independent-league team. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge Come spring, if major league owners and players have not resolved their labor impasse, both affiliated and unaffiliated minor league baseball will be the only professional game in town. But Billings has a minor league team: the Mustangs, a Pioneer League rookie affiliate of the Reds. It's the goal, eventually," says Curtis Haug, the vice president and general manager of the Kane County (Illinois) Cougars. MISTICH: Goodwin says the community has long rallied around the team and the ballpark and vice versa. Low-A: Jupiter Hammerheads, Mets Triple-A: Sacramento River Cats She'll be the first woman to manage a minor league Class High-A team. (1936-1949) . On February 2, 1876, the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, which comes to be more commonly known as the National League (NL), is formed. All rights reserved. Low-A: Inland Empire 66ers, Astros "I'm probably in the minority from some of the operators, [but] I've got to at least appreciate the fact that MLB has done everything they said they were going to do in bringing summer league ball to these markets," says Chris Allen, the president of Boyd Sports, which owns the Double-A South's Tennessee Smokies and four teams in the Appalachian League that lost affiliation. The Lancaster JetHawks, the lone minor league baseball team in Los Angeles County, was eliminated by Major League Baseball. MLB recently adopted a rule that no one may own more than 24 minor league teams or more than nine within the same minor league level. (Photo [+] by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images). Some of that is attributable to pandemic restrictions at some parks, fan fears of the virus and games canceled because of team outbreaks. BA Newsletter: Get Analysis, Rankings Delivered To Your Inbox! If these teams are eliminated, a "Dream . Whether the team was called the Navigators, the Defenders, the Tigers or. One based in the Rocky Mountain states would comprise much of the current Pioneer League (advanced rookie level), the other all but one member of the current 10-team Appalachian League (advanced rookie). The shakeup in minor league baseball means the five remaining teams will be in new leagues beginning with the 2021 season. Outside of COVID-19, Young says, affiliated teams' biggest concern was that MLB would take over teams' marketing and financial plans, robbing them of their autonomy. Triple-A: Omaha StormChasers Ten of those teams in the Appalachian League are a unique case, as they are MLB-owned clubs who then enter into operations agreements with operators in those cities. With the Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA), between Major League Baseball and minor league teams set to expire, MLB previously suggested a proposal -- a realignment -- that would reduce the number of minor league clubs from 160 to 118 beginning in 2021. The left-hander, who turns 35 . The issue has become politicized. The clubs Endeavor pursued, he notes, are affiliates of teams with national followings: They'll have one each from the Cubs, Cardinals, Giants and Dodgers, two of the Yankees' four teams and all four of the Braves' affiliates. The team had been the Marlins' Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes through 2019. All the #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news you can use, four days a week. Heres a great explainer. US Representative Lori Trahan, whose Massachusetts district encompasses Lowell, and US Representative David McKinley (R-W.Va.) co-authored a bipartisan letter with 104 signees to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, beseeching him to reconsider the plan. Double-A: Somerset Patriots Officials from teams that remained affiliated expressed general satisfaction, although some said they wouldn't air gripes publicly for fear of angering Major League Baseball. The 2023 WBC will feature 20 teams up from 16 in 2017 split into four divisions (or pools) that will play in four venues: Tokyo, Phoenix, Miami and Taichung, a city of nearly 3 million in . Fantasy baseball: Which prospects have fantasy value in 2023? That will presumably reduce travel for them. Triple-A: Sugar Land Skeeters One of those teams, the Mahoney Valley Scrappers, was eliminated from the minor league system. How do you negotiate when there's nothing to negotiate with?". One thing is clear: Major League Baseball is now in complete control of the minors, all part of commissioner Rob Manfred's vision for "One Baseball," with his office in New York the center of all levels of the sport. And you've seen that. Minor League Baseball released a statement not long after that report came out Tuesday denying any agreement on the elimination of teams. And if it is, it does not guarantee that it will provide a final list. The Amarillo Sod Poodles will switch to the Diamondbacks from San Diego, and the San Antonio Missions from Milwaukee to the Padres, dropping down from Triple-A. It also includes this statement by Commissioner Rob Manfred: We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities. Each MLB team sent invitations to the four teams it wants to be affiliated with going forward. Low-A: Salem Red Sox, Rockies These teams were chosen to be contracted based on a combination of perceived facility quality, proximity to opponents/parents teams, and league that they play in. Each franchise's top four affiliates will include one team each at Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A. To minimize travel, some minor leagues are swapping from high-A to low-A and visa-versa. Triple-A: Toledo Mud Hens The Appalachian League was converted to a college summer circuit for rising freshmen and sophomores. The opportunity is there now, Freund says, because MLB's minor league office can coordinate national marketing and merchandising efforts in a way the old MiLB office in Florida and the disparate league offices couldn't. What has long been rumored has begun in Minor League Baseball with 119 clubs (see the list below) being invited to be part of a greatly pared-down number of teams that are being realigned as part of Major League Baseball taking over MiLB. Triple-A: Louisville Bats Triple-A: Gwinnett Stripers Angels Endeavor and other affiliated owners will try to expand the minor league game's national appeal with marketing and improved broadcasting. Low-A: Lakeland Flying Tigers, Twins 265.2K Followers. Three White Sox affiliates play near one another in North Carolina. Complete Top 30 list . "We were totally wronged by MLB and the New York Yankees and we're going to win this suit," says Glenn Reicin, a partner with the firm. "It's a different world. High-A: Eugene Emeralds On average, MLB says its clubs will now be over 200 miles closer to their Triple-A affiliates. Since the contraction of Minor-League baseball to 120 teams, we've compiled a list of Minor-League affiliates. Full list of minor league MLB affiliates for 2021 Angels Triple-A: Salt Lake Bees Double-A: Rocket City Trash Pandas High-A: Tri-City Dust Devils Low-A: Inland Empire 66ers Astros Triple-A:. Trenton will join the Draft League. The Owlz were one of the eight that didn't play because their stadium was incomplete, but they plan to resume this year. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Jared Shuster, LHP. Triple-A: Round Rock Express The minor league minimum salary is as low as $1,100 per month, especially in many of the lower-level cities on this cut list. Double-A: Harrisburg Senators There are many variables to consider here, but perhaps the most notable is the complete disintegration of the Pioneer, New York-Penn, and Appalachian leagues. Geography is also a consideration when it comes to which minor league teams would be affiliated with major league teams. a report from Baseball Americas J.J. Cooper, the details of which were reported last year, The list of the 42 teams that would be eliminated, White Soxtop doctor thinks there will be baseball this year. Sanders ripped the league Friday after it unveiled a new minor-league format, which eliminated 40 minor-league teams. The Iowa Cubs, Memphis Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, and Omaha Storm Chasers have all been moved from the PCL to the "East", the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp got a nice promotion from the Double-A Southern League to the Triple-A East. "Well, it hurt," says former Lake Monsters owner Ray Pecor Jr. "It hurt in a lot of ways. The league seems more than willing to offer a large chunk of those teams up as sacrifices for their future plans. MLB has long had the right to shut down the Appalachian League with six months notice, independent of any PBA negotiations. Triple-A: Oklahoma City Dodgers display: none; The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Low-A: Hillsboro Hops, Dodgers Another early look at the Cubs 2023 Opening Day roster. The list is the 42 teams that are potentially not going to be part of the affiliated minor leagues if the two sides come to an agreement on the 120-team affiliated plan that MLB has proposed. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. MLB officials say they're mostly pleased with how their plan to restructure the game has gone. In November 2020, Peter Davis, proud proprietor of the Missoula PaddleHeads, was two years into life as a minor league baseball owner when disaster struck. When Major League Baseball announced this month that it was eliminating affiliations with dozens of minor league teams, those communities were stunned. The SeaWolves have released the first wave of the team's 2023 promotional calendar. The ouster still hasn't sunk in for many people. Minnesota moved its Double-A affiliate from Pensacola, Florida, to Wichita, Kansas. High-A: Fort Wayne TinCaps "We are incredibly excited at the thought of Minnesota baseball fans having the opportunity to watch their favorite Twins prospects as they wear the Saints uniform and play at gorgeous CHS Field. Only the Rockies are lacking one team; ongoing discussions between MLB and Fresno are holding up the final spot. Columbus Clippers (Indians) Indianapolis Indians (Pirates) Iowa Cubs (Cubs) Louisville Bats (Reds) Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) St. Paul Saints (Twins) Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) Northeast Division. He also dabbles in college hoops and other sports. All-in-all, the moves will be the most significant change to Minor League Baseball in its history with many markets looking to fill the void, or seeing college wood-bat prospects as opposed to those in the MiLB system. The lockout only affects players on MLB teams' 40-man rosters, and the minor league seasons will begin on schedule, pandemic permitting. The Diamondbacks had been responsible for paying PaddleHeads players and coaches, and that money was now gone. No Gavin Lux -- big problem. Double-A: Tennessee Smokies Simply put, a Twins-Saints partnership would not only be historic, but a wonderful boon for baseball in the Twin Cities and beyond.". Owen Murphy, RHP. "None of us would have chosen to have Year 1 be in a global pandemic," says Morgan Sword, MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations. I was there for 26 years or more. Would the White Sox and Cubs maintain their current groups of affiliates? The arrangement means MLB covers initial administrative costs of up to $500,000 per league for the first three years, and it provides scouting technology for MLB teams to keep tabs on players. "At the very beginning, when this all took place, there was a lot of cynicism. But under the new proposal, teams could only have five affiliates with up to 150 minor-league. Teams that learned in 2020 they were keeping affiliation were relieved, but even they had concerns about what life would be like under direct MLB rule. High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels License agreements are going to be for at least 10 years, rather than the two- or four-year agreements minor-league clubs previously had. Minimum salary for major league players is $563,500 in 2020,. Until there is an agreement between MLB and MiLB for a new PBA, there is no final number for how many teams will operate in affiliated baseball in 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB, #ada-button-frame { Invitations have been sent to 119 clubs to be part of the 2021 Minor League Baseball season. Low-A: Bradenton Marauders, Rangers We had all kinds of various problems that were more COVID-19 than anything else.". Dylan Heuer Major League Baseball eliminated more than 40 affiliated teams in the top four levels of the minor leagues over the winter, leaving 120 affiliated teams, four per MLB. }Customer Service. The next face-to-face bargaining session is scheduled for Dec. 6 in San Diego, prior to baseballs annual Winter Meetings. Among the clubs that converted to independent professional teams, owners say their biggest issue is that even if their franchises were successful for a season, they lost significant value when they lost affiliation. Minor League Baseball is expected to agree to a 25 percent reduction of the number of affiliated teams, from 160 down to 120, according to a report from Baseball Americas J.J. Cooper. Low-A: Augusta GreenJackets, Brewers "It doesn't mean it was good. That owner also said he didn't want any of that attributed to him, because he's hoping that someday MLB will restore his affiliation. No matter your stance on minor league baseball, these developments cannot, under any circumstances, be considered a win for the sport. You do wonder what the sustainability of the [Appalachian] league is," he says. The South Bend Cubs will play in the West Division of High-A Central. "See, it's not that good. Hudson Valley moves from Tampa Bay's New York-Penn team to the Yankees' Mid-Atlantic League team, while Lansing stays in the Midwest League and shifts from Toronto to Oakland. The teams Endeavor has pursued underscore a point that newly unaffiliated owners have made: Affiliation is crucial to the value of a club. "Before, MLB had to ask, and now they can tell. MLB ended the Professional Baseball Agreement that governed the relationship between the majors and minors. NEW YORK -- Jackson, Tennessee, lost its Double-A baseball team for next season, one of 40 cities dropped as professional affiliates as Major League Baseball went through with its plan to cut to . On Saturday, the New York Times released a list of the 42 teams that could be on the chopping block, which included four AA baseball teams: Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Chattanooga Lookouts,. Pecor says he only sold once he knew the buyer would keep the team in Vermont. An important part of Davis' development behind the plate in 2022 was learning how to quickly get on the same page as his pitchers, including in a second language. Disappeared overnight," Davis says. Until there is a finalized agreement, there is no finalized list. 2. Montana has two other minor league teams on the chopping block as well: the Missoula PaddleHeads (Diamondbacks advanced rookie) and the Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox advanced rookie). According to Baseball America the Freson Grizzlies are under consideration to fill that spot. Weekend edition! All 30 clubs have sent invites to fill out this structure, with the Colorado Rockies Low-A affiliate the lone exception. Cubs 6, Athletics 1: Nick Madrigal makes his case. These are the 42 minor league teams that would be contracted under MLB's realignment planwhich was reportedly developed by the Astros, Orioles, and our Brewers. Low-A: Columbia Fireflies, Tigers Odds & lines subject to change. MLB threw the West Virginia Power a curveball when it announced it was not one of the teams that would be part of the 120-team minor league lineup next season. Double-A: Rocket City Trash Pandas High-A: Rome Braves To Davis, the biggest thing the agreement provided his PaddleHeads was a sense of security. Double-A: Biloxi Shuckers "I think that's a tough road for them to argue. High-A: Hickory Crawdads I think ours would survive. @MiLB. The Vermont Lake Monsters, on the other hand, lost affiliation and sold for about $1 million, far short of the $8 million that other teams in their league had sold for previously. MLB shrinks minors, drops 40 cities as affiliates, The greatest lineups ever? Teams may currently have unlimited affiliates with as many players as possible in their system. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best, Las Vegas prepared to give A's 'better opportunity', Female minor league manager shadows Lovullo, Paxton (hamstring) unlikely for start of season, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Rangers, LHP Smith agree to 1-year, $1.5M deal, 7 Cubs combine for 1st spring no-no since 2017, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk. Baseball America has reported the 2021 draft will be held in mid-July rather than June, pointing to exactly that likelihood. While the sports world has undergone a dramatic temporary change as leagues wait out the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, drastic permanent change might be about to come to baseball. Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, White Sox The contentious negotiations over a new Professional Baseball Agreement the current one will expire at the end of September next year spilled into the public eye last month. "If we have the necessary advocacy, Major League Baseball has stated a commitment to provide sustainable opportunities for the Jackson Generals to maintain professional baseball," Generals general manager Marcus Sabata said in a statement. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best, Las Vegas prepared to give A's 'better opportunity', Female minor league manager shadows Lovullo, Paxton (hamstring) unlikely for start of season, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Rangers, LHP Smith agree to 1-year, $1.5M deal, 7 Cubs combine for 1st spring no-no since 2017, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk. Burlington (North Carolina), Royals Danville (Virginia), Braves Elizabethton (Tennessee), Twins Greeneville (Tennessee), Reds Johnson City (Tennessee), Cardinals Kingsport (Tennessee), Mets. High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws What's the Dodgers' plan at shortstop? My kids know that that is something fun for them to do, whether you're a baseball fan or player or not. It means that MLB has evaluated every franchise facilities, geography, politics, etc. Of the 42 teams that will lose MLB affiliation, 18 are in the Appalachian region. "We have long admired the creative excellence of Marv Goldklang, Mike Veeck and their team in making the Saints one of America's most successful minor league brands," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "As long as I knew the Pioneer League was going to stick together, I knew we were going to be good," he says. High-A: West Michigan Whitecaps Another MLB official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, denies that the clubs or MLB violated any contracts. In talks to replace the Professional Baseball Agreement that expires after the 2020 season, MLB last year proposed cutting 42 affiliates, including Double-A teams in Binghamton, New York, and. Triple-A: Charlotte Knights MLB originally claimed that its plan was primarily due to the pedestrian conditions and facilities at a plethora of minor league organizations. MLB says it is also trying to make good on its promise that no town would lose baseball because of de-affiliation; Sword says that by 2023 there should some form of minor league ball in five of the cities where teams didn't play last year. But some of them would not.". The Marlins began 2021 with plenty of optimism, coming off a postseason berth in the COVID-ravaged 2020 season and possessing a farm system ranked as the third-best in baseball by MLB Pipeline. I mean, obviously, we had attendance restrictions. Double-A: Mississippi Braves MISTICH: While the owners of the West Virginia Power promise baseball will be back next season, it's unknown what league they'll be a part of. MLB officials also said that reducing the number of teams would allow major league clubs to improve the infamously poor pay for their minor leaguers. Apart from his impressive strikeout record, Edinson Volquez also shares the record for starts with Daisuke Matsuzaka at six, collected across the 2009, 2013, and 2017 competitions. Here are the best ones. That means final word on the restructure of the minor leagues will not be fully known until January or February. In Charleston, the ballpark wasn't built in a suburb or off an interstate. "To affiliate as closely as possible with Major League Baseball is the gold standard. Major League Baseball has citied better scouting and analytics as another reason to lower the number of affiliates, all of which the MLB clubs pay player payroll. Now we can grow the brand from a national standpoint. Fantasy baseball: Which prospects have fantasy value in 2023? Another example is the Midwest League moving from low-A to high-A. There are currently 160 teams in affiliated baseball above the complex level (which are the Dominican Summer, Gulf Coast and Arizona Leagues). Freund says he would like to see, for example, major league broadcasts cut away to minor league games to show the organization's best prospects at work. Its up to teams to accept those invitations, which are basically terms and conditions both sides have to adhere to (Player Development Contracts). Former Natl Sportswriter Of The Year Nominee, BBWAA, MLB, Motorsports, The Early Returns Of Kevin Durant In The Phoenix Suns Offense, Bayern Munich Remain First But Must Switch Off Complacency Ahead Of PSG Fixture, New England Patriots Reportedly Set To Release Brian Hoyer, Leaving Two In The Quarterback Room, Liverpool Legend Roberto Firmino Reportedly Offers Himself To FC Barcelona, Brock Lesnar Reportedly Finishing Up Current WWE Run, Xavi Speaks On FC Barcelonas Defensive Masterclass Against Real Madrid Ahead Of Valencia Clash, Manchester City Ready To Sell Bernardo Silva To FC Barcelona And Name Asking Price - Reports, FC Barcelona And Real Madrid Presidents Met To Discuss European Super League Strategy Before El Clasico - Reports. He says the contraction is a disservice to communities like Charleston, which has hosted a minor league team for most seasons dating back to 1910. "We had a contract with a group that expired," the official says, referring to the Professional Baseball Agreement between MLB and MiLB that expired Sept. 30, 2020. No Gavin Lux -- big problem. Three minor league affiliates of the Kansas City Royals are among 42 minor league teams identified by Major League Baseball as targets to be dropped from their current circuits . "Yeah, I am concerned. Triple-A: Norfolk Tides Ditto the Pioneer League, and much of the New York-Penn League. In cities big and small, these teams are as much a cultural identity as an inexpensive and fun family outing. Its early, but with each passing day Jordan Walkers case to break camp with the Cardinals major league team gets stronger. We look forward to demonstrating the best of our game throughout local communities, supporting all those who are working hard to grow the sport, and sharing unrivaled technology and resources with minor league teams and players.. Four of these 2021 openings -- Kannapolis, Wichita, Fredericksburg and Rocket City -- were originally set for 2020, but the cancellation of the season made this an obvious impossibility. Low-A: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Yankees High-A: Lake County Captains Here is the list of 42 minor league baseball teams that would be cut under the Major League Baseball proposal, according to a report in the New York Times: South Atlantic League. As many as 42 minor league teams would be stripped of their affiliation with MLB clubs under a proposal brought forward by the league, Baseball America's J.J . It would destroy thousands of jobs and devastate local economies.. You've seen bars and restaurants and high-rise apartment buildings spring up around the ballpark. They stayed in the Pioneer League, newly independent for the 2021 season, and won the championship. Owners were told they would lose their affiliation if those upgrades weren't made. "This result is nothing short of a home run," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who is Senate minority leader. MISTICH: When Major League Baseball announced the reorganization, officials said one of the aims was to cut down on travel times between games and also ensure the facilities are up to date. High-A: Bowling Green Hot Rods Copyright 2023 Baseball America Enterprises. Accuracy and availability may vary. "It was clear that Nostalgic was incapable of operating a minor-league team at the minimum standards," he says. A separate class action lawsuit filed this month on behalf of minor league players also challenges MLB's antitrust status by claiming MLB and its teams conspired to keep pay low. It launched with eight teams: Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants, Cuban Stars, Dayton . The reduction would be in line with Major League Baseballs proposed overhaul of the minor league system, the details of which were reported last year. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. - Earlier this month, we reported (link 1, link 2, link 3) on the beginning of the negotiations between Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball in regard to the upcoming Professional Baseball Agreement.The current PBA will expire at the end of the 2020 MiLB season, and it has been widely speculated that the next one will include major changes to the make up of the .