It’s official: the city of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs are signing a 30-year lease for the team to train at a new complex slated to open in 2014, but there’s still plenty of design work to be done. The Mesa City Council is expected to sign off on the lease during Monday’s meeting. It […]
Tag Archives | 2014
Birmingham: We’re close to finalizing Barons ballpark plans
With 80 percent of the land needed for a new Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) ballpark already acquired, the city of Birmingham says it’s on the verge of moving ahead with a new downtown facility. The site, across from Railroad Park, will feature a new $50-million ballpark with 8,500 seats, 26 suites (20 sold […]
New Richmond ballpark by 2014?
Though there’s been little public discussion, progress is being made in talks between the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority over a new ballpark next to The Diamond in the city’s Boulevard district. The area has been the center of baseball in Richmond for decades; Parker Field sat at […]
Architects chosen for Coastal Carolina ballpark expansion
Coastal Carolina University is expanding Watson Stadium in an attempt to raise the profile of the baseball program, and architects have been chosen transform the ballpark into something that could potentially host NCAA Super Regionals. The architects: a local (Greenville) firm, Michael Keeshen & Associates, is partnering with Populous (Kansas City). The goal, according to […]
Populous, Hunt land Cubs spring-site design
One of the biggest ballpark deals to come down the pike in recent months has been announced, as Populous landed the contract to design the new Chicago Cubs spring-training facility in Mesa, Arizona, while Hunt Construction will build it. Mesa Mayor Scott Smith made the announcement today. About $84 million is budgeted for the spring […]
Red Sox extend Lewis-Gale Field lease through 2014
The Salem Red Sox (High Class A; Carolina League) will call Lewis-Gale Field home through the 2014 season, as the team and the city of Salem worked out a four-year lease extension starting this year. “With an improving economy and the Red Sox’s championship brand of baseball, I not only hope we continue the tradition […]
NA, MLB extend agreement for six more years
No surprise here: Major League Baseball and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL) have agreed on a new six-year Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA), extending through the 2020 season, as both sides unanimously approve the agreement. “Major League Baseball is very happy to continue its partnership with Minor League Baseball,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan […]
Smokies, Cubs extend PDC
The Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) and the Chicago Cubs extended their player-development deal through the 2014 season. “It is a great privilege and honor to extend our PDC (player development contract) with the Smokies organization,” said Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita. “The East Tennessee community, Brian Cox, Doug Kirchhofer and […]
Booted from Myrtle Beach, Atlanta turns to Lynchburg
Atlanta will have a new High Class A affiliate for the next four years — the Lynchburg Hillcats, on their third parent in three years — after the Braves were dumped as a parent by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a move that also leaves Cincinnati in a bad situation. The Braves were informed by the […]
Kansas City, Omaha extend for four more years
The Kansas City Royals and Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will remain partners for four more years, as the pair agreed on an extension to their player-development contract (PDC). The Royals also announced PDC extensions with The Royals also announced new two-year extensions of existing PDCs with the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Idaho Falls […]
Toronto extends with Lansing, takes over in Bluefield
The Toronto Blue Jays made two announcements today regarding its farm system, signing an extension of its player-development contract with the Lansing Lugnuts (Low Class A; Midwest League) and taking over from Baltimore with the Appalachian League’s Bluefield team, to be known as the Bluefield Blue Jays. The Bluefield Blue Jays will begin play with […]
Biscuits, Rays extend PDC
The Montgomery Biscuits (Class AA; Southern League) and the Tampa Bay Rays announced a four-year extension of their player development contract (PDC), effective through the 2014 season. All seven years of Biscuits history in Montgomery have taken place with a Rays affiliation, as more than 200 players have worn the butter and blue, with an […]
Kannapolis, White Sox extend PDC
The Kannapolis Intimidators (Low Class A; Sally League) have extended their player development contract with the Chicago White Sox and will remain their Single-A affiliate through at least the 2014 season. The White Sox and Intimidators have been together since the 2001 season when the affiliation switched from the Philadelphia Phillies. “We are so excited […]