Negotiations are ongoing in professional baseball — with major implications.

“It could change the landscape of the game,” Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer said.

The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) between Major League Baseball and the minor leagues expires Sept. 15 of this year. The current deal has been in place since 1990.

The proposed new deal would give the game a radically different look. Short-season and rookie leagues would be eliminated. This year's amateur draft could be reduced from 40 to five rounds and moved to July or August.

The 160 currently affiliated minor league franchises would be reduced by 42 — a 25 percent contraction — before the start of the 2021 season.

Knoch graduate Chase Rowe, who stepped down as head baseball coach at La Roche College to become hitting coach of the Detroit Tigers' Connecticut franchise in the New York-Penn League this year, would be affected if MiLB accepts this offer from MLB.

The New York-Penn League would be eliminated as part of this agreement.

“Nothing's been accepted yet. I know there's discussions going on, but we haven't been told anything,” Rowe said. “I've found the Tigers to be a family-oriented organization.

“All of the managers and coaches in the organization have had weekly meetings on computer. The organization is constantly keeping in touch. I don't think they'd leave us in the dark for this long if something was definitely happening.”

Rowe remains prepared nonetheless.

“If our season (NY-Penn) doesn't happen this year, I imagine I'll be reassigned somewhere else in the system,” he said.

Messer said there was a good chance Rowe will wind up in extended spring training once pro baseball does return this summer.

“The fun part is being on the field for games and that may not happen for him,” Messer said of Rowe. “After this year, he may have a decision to make.”

The 42 minor league teams on the contraction list include the Class AA Erie Seawolves, the Bristol Pirates (rookie ball) and West Virginia Power.

“West Virginia could lose three minor league teams and that would affect that state's economy,” Messer said. “Some of the teams they're looking to contract have been in their towns for a long time.”

A five-round draft would be followed by undrafted free agent signings with bonuses of no more than $10,000. Under the present system, players drafted as low as the 10th round could still be offered $100,000 in bonus money.

“A five-round draft would definitely impact college baseball,” Messer said. “Unless they are extreme prospects, high school players won't be drafted. With the first year of (pro baseball) development wiped out, pro franchises will use the colleges as their minor leagues.

“They're going to want more seasoned players. Most players won't leave college early. They'll stay all four years to increase their chances of being drafted and signing for decent money.”

Rowe said a number of players in the low-level minor leagues “aren't any better than a lot of guys who weren't drafted at all.

“I just think they're trying to trim the fat a little bit,” he said. “They want quality over quantity.”

Rowe added that his interest is in staying with player development.

“I definitely fall under that umbrella,” he said. “My goal is to help players get better. That's what I enjoy about the game.”

There has been a PBA agreement between MiBL and MLB, without interruption, since 1903.

Rowe just hopes baseball returns this year, no matter what shape the game takes next season and beyond.

“America needed baseball after 9/11 to help heal the country and we need it now,” he said.