LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky is home to four minor league baseball teams.

Three of the four: Louisville Bats, Lexington Legends, and the Bowling Green Hot Rods are affiliates of major league clubs. The Florence Freedom are part of an independent league (Pioneer).

This past weekend, an article in the New York Times reported that the Lexington Legends were among 42 minor league teams in jeopardy of losing their affiliation with their major league team, due to proposed restructuring within Major League Baseball. Louisville and Bowling Green were not listed as teams under consideration to be cut.

Under the proposal, the 42 newly independent teams would be welcome to join a lower-quality Dream League populated largely by undrafted and released players. 

The report also states: M.L.B. contends that its proposed reorganization would make the development of up-and-coming players more efficient, while also improving their work conditions. The plan includes increasing the number of days off, reducing travel time, improving transportation and hotel accommodations, and ensuring that ballparks meet M.L.B. proposals for enhanced standards."

“Major League Baseball and minor league baseball have had a long century-plus relationship, so this professional baseball agreement they’re at the beginning stages of the negotiations," says Andy Shea, President & CEO of the Lexington Legends. He adds, "It goes through the end of 2020 anyways, so our 2020 season will go exactly as planned as a proud Kansas City Royal affiliate and throughout the way, short and long term, we’re hoping and planning for the best. And, we think there is a great deal to be made between major and minor league professional baseball."

Shea and his family have personally been associated with the Legends team for 16 years but say this is the first time he’s aware the Legends have ever experienced a situation similar to this.

The Legends have a front office of more than 20 full-time employees and over 200 part-time workers when baseball is in play. Shea says he’s reminding his staff to remain positive as negotiations continue.

“The immediate next steps are patience and positivity. I think again, the Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball offices are working together and I think from a player development as well as the fan development situation, there’s a lot of good things that can come from this,” explains Shea.

Andy Barr represents Kentucky's 6th Congressional district which includes Lexington, says he and 106 of his fellow Congressional colleagues are urging Major League Baseball to drop the proposed plan that would eliminate 42 minor league baseball teams.

Barr shared in a message via Twitter that, "This plan is bad for Lexington and for Major League Baseball as a whole."