In perhaps the biggest surprise of the affiliation season, the Kane County Cougars (Low Class A; Midwest League) have shifted affiliations from the Oakland A’s to the Kansas City Royals, under a two-year player-development deal announced today, leaving Oakland and Burlington as the last two Low Class A teams standing. This will be the fourth […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
51s, Blue Jays officially extend PDC
It was a foregone conclusion, but that can’t mask all excitement surrounding the announcement that the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Toronto Blue Jays extended their player-development contract by two years. Not. “We’re very happy to have the Blue Jays back in Las Vegas,” 51s General Manager Don Logan said. […]
Fresno Grizzlies clean house
The Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are cleaning house this offseason, dismissing three front-office executives and bringing in Richard Fleming as new CEO of the franchise. It’s an interesting choice for the Grizzlies: Fleming is a business consultant who has worked with the likes of Monsanto and Microsoft, but not with a professional […]
Batavia, Cardinals extend PDC
The Batavia MuckDogs (short season A; NY-Penn League) and the St. Louis Cardinals announced a two-year extension to their current player-development contract, despite the uncertainty swirling around the franchise. “The Genesee County Baseball Club is pleased to announce that we will be extending our working relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals for two more years. […]
Phillies, West Chester agree on new ballpark
After years of rumor and false starts, the city of West Chester, Pa., has snared the Philadelphia Phillies as a partner of sorts on a new ballpark, with the Phils pledging a Class A team for the facility if the city will build. And the city will build. The plan is for the West Chester […]
RedHawks, Astros new partners
Fresh off an affiliation with Round Rock, the Houston Astros have struck an affiliation deal with the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), bringing back Astros players to the city where old Colt .45s had their original Triple-A affiliation in 1962. “We are very excited to have our Triple A affiliation coming home […]
ValleyCats, Astros extend PDC
The Houston Astros and the Tri-City ValleyCats extended their player-development contract (PDC) for two more years, the pair announced today, after the ValleyCats ended perhaps the most successful season in team history. “We are pleased to continue our close relationship with the Astros. It provides the ValleyCats a strong partner to continue our recent success,” […]
Escondido to begin ballpark process this week
The process for Escondido (Cal.) to finance and build a ballpark for the relocated Portland Beavers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) should begin this week when the City Council decides whether to spend money on engineering and environmental studies. The agenda item on Wednesday’s meeting calls for the City Council to “consider and approve a […]
Smith stepping down as Scrappers GM; Taylor promoted
Personnel changes are now starting in the minor leagues now that most seasons are over. For the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (short season A; NY-Penn League), Dave Smith is stepping down as GM, to be replaced by assistant GM Jordan Taylor. Smith has been with the team for eleven seasons after joining the Scrappers in 1999 […]
It’s official: Canadians now farm team for Toronto
You read it here first, and it was officially announced today: the Toronto Blue Jays have signed a player-development contract with the Vancouver Canadians, as the only two Canadian teams in affiliated ball join forces. The announcement confirms what we reported yesterday. Here’s the word from the official press release: Partnering with Vancouver is a […]
Jays wooing Canadians as affiliate
The only two affiliated teams in Canada may be uniting forces, as the Toronto Blue Jays are close to signing a player-development contract with the Vancouver Canadians (short season A; Northwest League). The move makes sense if you are Canadian: it gives the Blue Jays a coast-to-coast presence north of the border, and it gives […]
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 […]
Pelicans to switch affiliation to Rangers
With owner Chuck Greenberg now an owner of the Texas Rangers, it was only natural that the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina League) would shift affiliation to the Rangers; we’re told it will be announced tomorrow. The move ends the Pelicans’ relationship with the Atlanta Braves. The move comes after the Rangers officially […]