In my view the first step in MLB's destruction of minor league baseball. I have to think displaced ownerships and cities will likely launch a legal battle with MLB on this one. I also have to view this as support for my view that MLB effort to destroy the low minors as a way to shift more of its past role of player development onto college baseball, and presumably keep more players in college and prevent many players from going pro after their junior seasons. I would think shortening the number of rounds in the MLB draft would probably end up being part of this as well.
My wife is a reporter in southeastern Connecticut and she has been covering this issue on how it pertains to the Norwich minor league team in the New York Penn League. She told me a couple of days ago that the MLB draft is being moved back to the All Star break. If you don't have short season minor league ball, there is no reason to have the draft in the first half of June.