The Tri-City ValleyCats appear to be keeping their affiliation with Major League Baseball under MLB’s plan to reduce the number of minor-league teams.

The ValleyCats, the Troy-based New York-Penn League affiliate of the Houston Astros, weren’t on a list of 42 teams obtained by the New York Times that would have their ties with major-league teams severed if the plan becomes reality for the 2021 season.

If true, the ValleyCats would be in position to become a full-season affiliate with a season that begins in April instead of its current 76-game schedule that starts in mid-June. The MLB plan would eliminate short-season leagues such as the NYPL, citing inadequate ballparks, excessive travel and cost.

It’s unclear whether the ValleyCats would continue its relationship with the Astros, which will enter its 19th season in 2020, or might be assigned another MLB team that’s closer geographically.

ValleyCats president Rick Murphy, reached this morning, said he couldn’t comment on the Times report because he hasn’t seen the MLB plan.

“The only thing I will say is that we’re confident that (Minor League president) Pat O’Conner and the team at MILB will be negotiating with MLB and we’re confident that they have the 160 teams that are represented by MILB in their best interest,’’ Murphy said. “I’m optimistic that MLB and MILB will come to some sort of agreement and obviously preserve the minor leagues … in these communities that have invested millions of dollars in their facilities and in their communities for our national past time.”

Murphy did say last month he was “pretty confident” the ValleyCats and the future of professional baseball in the Capital Region was sound.

The list acquired by the Times had five NYPL teams not on the cut list: the ValleyCats, the Aberdeen IronBirds, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Hudson Valley Renegades and the West Virginia Black Bears.

While MLB is concerned about some low minor-league teams having inadequate facilities, the ValleyCats play in 4,500-seat Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, which opened in 2002, and are one of the NYPL’s highest-drawing teams.

The other nine NYPL teams, like regular ValleyCats competitors the Vermont Lake Monsters or the Lowell Spinners, would presumably have the option of joining the “Dream League,’’ an independent league operated by MLB. But in that league the teams would have to pay player salaries and workman’s comp insurance.

Minor-league baseball has estimated that teams that lose their affiliation will see their asset value reduced by an average of more than 80 percent.

Becoming a full-season affiliate would present its own challenges, such as increased costs and dealing with bad weather in April and May. Also, the ValleyCats share Bruno Stadium, which is on the Hudson Valley Community College campus, with that school’s baseball team, which could create scheduling conflicts during the spring.

The Capital Region hasn’t had full-season affiliated baseball since the Double-A Albany-Colonie Yankees left the area following the 1994 season.

Major and minor-league officials will convene at the baseball meetings in San Diego next month. ValleyCats vice chairman Doug Gladstone, son of principal owner Bill Gladstone, said he's optimistic.

"I would say as a long time board member of the ValleyCats, I have every confidence that Pat O'Conner and his negotiating team will prevail in every way that will be beneficial to the region and baseball in general,'' Gladstone said.

msingelais@timesunion.com • 518-454-5509 • @MarkSingelais