Simeon Lewis, right, autographs a baseball for Ian Witherow, 10, of Warren, before the start of the MV Scrappers 20th season home opener June 15, 2018, at Eastwood Field. Negotiations taking place today may end the Scrappers’ affiliation with Major League Baseball.

Staff, wire report

NILES — Minor League Baseball is prepared to agree to Major League Baseball’s proposal to cut guaranteed affiliations from 160 to 120 next year, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. It’s a plan that could spell the end for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because no announcements were authorized. The development was first reported by Baseball America.

However, a statement released Tuesday evening by Minor League Baseball out of St. Petersburg, Fla., denied reports that the deal already had been reached, and called media reports “largely inaccurate.”

An electronic negotiating session is scheduled for today.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers, a single-A short season minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, were placed on an early list of 42 minor league teams that could lose a Major League Baseball player development contract after the 2020 season. It is unclear, however, if that list has been adjusted during ongoing negotiations with Major League Baseball.

Contacted Tuesday, Scrappers General Manager Jordan Taylor said he could not comment.

In informal talks, parties have discussed the possibility of a radical overhaul in which MLB would take over all of many of the duties of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the minor league governing body, another person familiar with the negotiations said.

Instead of franchise affiliations, licensing agreements similar to those of hotel chains would be created, that person said. MLB then would sell sponsorship, licensing and media rights — a switch that may lead to decreased overhead and increased revenue.

“There have been no agreements on contraction or any other issues,” the national Minor League Baseball Association said in its statement, adding it “looks forward to continuing the good-faith negotiations with MLB (today) as we work toward an agreement that best ensures the future of professional baseball throughout the United States and Canada.”

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 Erie, Pennsylvania, along with Chattanooga and Jackson, Tennessee. The plan would eliminate affiliations for the 28 teams from four Class A short season and Rookie Advanced leagues that do not play at spring training complexes.

Earlier release of that list included the Scrappers.

Under MLB’s proposal, each franchise would have four full-season farm teams, a rookie-level club at its minor league complex and prospects in the Dominican Summer League. Some franchises would be cutting their U.S.-based affiliates from seven to five. Which teams would lose affiliations is subject to negotiation.

That information, and whether the Scrappers are part of the teams proposed for cuts, was not released immediately.

The national association lobbied Congress as it fought MLB’s plan. But the new coronavirus pandemic changed the dynamic and sapped minor league teams of revenue and willingness to fight. Some teams have trimmed expenses with layoffs and furloughs.

Opening day in the majors, slated for March 26, has been pushed back indefinitely; the commissioner’s office and players’ association have discussed the possibility of playing in empty ballparks as a method that would lead to broadcast revenue and allow players to receive a salary.

Without big broadcast contracts, the minors don’t appear to have that type of option and have less of a likelihood to play this year. MLB refused the minors’ request to extend the PBA for a year, both people said.

Now the minors are prepared to accept MLB’s concept with some modifications, the people said. The Double-A and Class A teams targeted to lose their affiliations by MLB could be granted provisional licenses if their big league club wants to retain the farm team and there is a prospect of a new ballpark or stadium improvements, one of the people said.

MLB already has gained an agreement with the big league players’ union to cut the amateur draft from 40 rounds to as few as five this year and 20 in 2021. And signing bonuses of undrafted players will be capped at $20,000.

MLB hopes to push back the amateur draft permanently, likely to July. Minor league teams losing affiliations may be able to stock their rosters with unsigned players in a showcase environment similar to collegiate summer leagues.

Ahead of an agreement, MLB said it will raise the pay of minor leaguers next year.

The Niles-based Scrappers started playing here in 1999. Several major leaguers got their start at Eastwood Field, including current Cleveland Indians Francisco Lindor, Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez, along with former Tribe members and perennial all-stars Victor Martinez and CC Sabathia.

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