Contracts always have expiration dates. There is NEVER any predicting when or if they will be renewed.

The planes won’t ‘move to American’ since Delta owns them. They will go wherever Delta wants them to go. The FLYING out of the western bases Compass services will remain there because that’s where the people are. Someone will fly those pax. Unless/until Delta is ready to cover that flying with A220s (of which they currently have four of a 90 plane order) Delta will most likely use their planes to cover that flying.

Whether Compass does it, Skywest does it, Mesa does it, Endeavor does it, or Republic does it, those 36 aircraft are likely to continue on those routes. Already possessing the pilots and other infrastructure, it is probably cheaper to just leave them at Compass, but that’s going to require TSH and Delta to come to terms. Whether that happens or not is anyone’s guess.

And certainly people can go to Skywest, although that does not mean they will be on the west coast. A newbie starting in the 175 at Skywest currently is probably looking at at least 4-5 months at ORD or LGA. They will be in a crash pad sitting reserve awhile and not seeing a great deal of flying. And with their recent increase in pay, nothing really wrong with doing that, although you might wind up logging only 400 hours your first year you will be paid your minimum guarantee.
CRJ western bases are more junior and (generally) get more flying.

Horizon right now is not much better although there is a promised quasi-flow to Alaska. Mesa...., well, it’s Mesa.

So what does a newbie get? A bonus usually, and a type rating, and a relatively short time on reserve at one of three pretty good bases. Then you’ll have your line and be flying your butt off, logging 83 hours of flying a month. If the contract with Delta is renewed you’ll be upgrading at 18 months or so, and this will be a hell of a good deal.

If not, you take however many hours you have and a type rating and go where you want to go. Skywest will give you a bonus for having an ERJ type rating and credit for pay purposes (although not seniority) for your previous 121 time and you can go become a DEC pilot or almost DEC pilot at Envoy or Horizon or a couple of other places.

It is high risk high reward, but if TSH gets additional flying, either an extension from Delta or from anyone else, it’s likely your fastest way to build 121 time and 121 TPIC. If they don’t, you’ve got a type rating and 83 hours a month of 121 for as long as the flying lasts to take with you to your next job.

But there ARE no guarantees at the regionals. So it’s your choice. Ante up if you like the odds and it’s your kind of game. Go elsewhere if you don’t,