Hundreds of minor league baseball players were cut Thursday and hundreds more are expected to lose their jobs as the sport grapples with the near certainty that the minor league season will be canceled, sources told ESPN.

The minor league baseball season has not officially been canceled, according to a spokesperson, though the suspension of the Professional Baseball Agreement that governs the minor leagues' relationship with Major League Baseball precludes big league organizations from providing players to their minor league affiliates.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he would inform Minor League Baseball if and when players would be allowed to join affiliated teams.

Some of the veteran players released could compete for jobs on the anticipated 20-man taxi squad every major league team will field if a season begins, but the younger players cut Thursday, sources said, might have more difficulty finding jobs in baseball.