This doesn’t really affect any upcoming affiliation deals in 2018, but the Salt Lake Bees (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Los Angeles Angels extended their existing player-development contract (PDC) through 2022.
The current affiliation deal was set to expire in 2020.
The partnership between the Bees and Angels will run at least 22 years, as the two teams first became affiliated in the 2001 season.
“Salt Lake City is a town that we really enjoy being in. It’s a great community and fan base,” Angels General Manager Billy Eppler said. “We are very comfortable with Marc Amicone, the entire front office and ownership group. To be able to extend this affiliation was important and frankly, an easy decision for us.”
“In 18 years of affiliation the Angels have not only supplied us with great players and coaches on the field, but also in our community,” said Bees President Marc Amicone. “We want to thank Billy Eppler and all of the Angels front office staff who make this affiliation so special.”
The Angels affiliation has brought dozens of players to Salt Lake that would go on to stardom in the Major Leagues, including two-time American League MVP Mike Trout, Gold Glove winner Kole Calhoun, Jered Weaver, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar, Mike Napoli, Chone Figgins, John Lackey, Francisco Rodriguez and more.
You can read more about the current state of affiliations on our Affiliate Dance page. We expect a number of affiliations to be renewed in coming weeks, but there are always intriguing openings at every level of baseball. As you can see on the Affiliate Dance page, MLB and MiLB teams can renew their existing affiliations at any point. At the end of the 2018 season, teams can file to search new affiliation options, so there’s always a shuffle of sorts at the end of the year.