P-Nats, Washington extend PDC
The Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) will remain an affiliate of the Washington Nationals for two more years, as the pair signed an extension of their player-development contract. “We are very pleased to renew our player development contract with the Washington Nationals,” said Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber. “We have had a positive […]
It’s now official: Rangers, Express sign four-year PDC
We reported it would happen a month ago, and today the Texas Rangers and Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) made it official: the Express will be the Rangers’ top farm team for the next four years. No surprise: we reported a month ago the shift was likely to happen. The reason behind […]
Lee County passes on City of Palms as a swim facility
Lee County has decided to pass on a proposal to convert City of Palms Park, the spring home of the Boston Red Sox, to a swimming facility after National Swimming Center Corp. failed to provide detailed financial information. The proposal would have converted Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park to a natatorium to host competitive […]
Texas Collegiate League expands to Lafayette for 2011
The Acadiana Cane Cutters will be playing out of Lafayette’s Fabacher Field in the summer-collegiate Texas Collegiate League beginning in the 2011 season. The team will be owned by Baseball Ventures of Louisiana, comprised of Richard and Sandi Chalmers, David and Leslie Alwell and Rudy Bourg; former MLB catcher Paul Bako will assist. The addition […]
Renegades, Rays extend PDC
The Hudson Valley Renegades (short season A; NY-Penn League) will remain a farm team of the Tampa Bay Rays, as the pair extend their PDC for two more years. Throughout the Renegades’ 16-year history (14 of those years with Tampa Bay) fans have seen numerous ex-Renegades grace Major League ballparks, including Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, […]
Nashville, Brewers renew PDC
The game of musical chairs at Triple-A just got smaller, as the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and the Milwaukee Brewers renewed their player-development agreement for two more years, leaving Houston and Toronto to fight over Las Vegas and Oklahoma City. In six seasons as a Brewers affiliate, Nashville has produced five winning […]
Squabbling could derail new SWB Yankees ballpark
A spat between Luzerne and Lackawanna counties over the proceeds of the sale of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League) could imperil $20 million in state money already earmarked for a new ballpark, according to Penn. Gov. Ed Rendell. We’re talking a pretty serious split here: Luzerne County has already filed suit to prevent […]
Bondholders warned Redbirds may default
Bondholders who funded the construction of AutoZone Park and the operations of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) have been warned that the nonprofit ownership could make only a partial payment on the bonds this year. U.S. National Bank warned that the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is slipping behind on its $5 million […]
GreenJackets, Giants renew PDC
The San Francisco Giants and the Augusta GreenJackets (Low Class A; Sally League) will remain partners for two more years, as the pair signed an extension to their player-development contract (PDC). The extension will run through the 2012 season. “The Giants are a quality organization and we have very much enjoyed working with them,” said […]
Miami-Dade County to Marlins: We thought you were broke
Miami-Dade County Commissioners are a little peeved that the Florida Marlins presented their finances as being in dire straits while showing a $33-million profit in 2008-2009 and are asking the team to cover $50 million in borrowing expenses. We can predict what the reaction will be: No. The request was made by Commissioner Sally Heyman […]
Mesa: We think another MLB team will move to HoHoKam
Mesa officials have a game plan for HoHoKam Park, which in the next few years will become the former spring home of the Chicago Cubs: they’ll try to attract another MLB team to train there. Not a bad plan, really: might as well give it a shot. The plan is pretty simple: when the Cubs […]
Mandalay officially takes control of OKC RedHawks
Mandalay Baseball Properties will hold a press conference today to formally announce it has closed on the purchase of the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). The purchase, as first reported on Ballpark Digest, gives Mandalay ownership of four minor-league teams and management deals with three more. (We’re not counting the Hagerstown Suns […]
Round Rock to announce affiliation shift to Rangers
We have the first big affiliate shift in Minor Legue Baseball, as the Round Rock Express will announce later this morning that the Pacific Coast League team is shifting parents from the Houston Astros to the Texas Rangers. No surprise: we reported a month ago the shift was likely to happen. The reason behind the […]