Mets to Vegas; Blue Jays to Buffalo
The New York Mets announced a new player-development deal with the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) — which means an affiliation deal for the only two players left standing: the Toronto Blue Jays and the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League). “We are familiar with many of the front office personnel with […]
Angels, Travelers back in bed for two more years
With no other options on the table, the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed a two-year extension of their player-development contract (PDC), through 2014. The announcement was made by Travelers team president Russ Meeks on Monday morning at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was no secret the Travelers were […]
Entertainment complex pitched for Turner Field area
Frequently empty parking lots north of Turner Field could be developed as a 55-acre entertainment complex, as Invest Atlanta solicits developers about their interest in a potential project. There’s a lot of land surrounding Turner Field, and it’s not doing a whole lot to bring fans to Atlanta Braves games or generate much in way […]
Knights break ground on new ballpark
It’s been more than a decade since Don Beaver proposed a new ballpark for the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League), and years of hard work paid off when the team broke ground on a new Uptown ballpark Friday. The Knights haven’t technically played in Charlotte since 1988, when George Shinn moved the team from […]
Blue Jays, Bisons already talking affiliation
We expect a deal to come out of this, as the Toronto Blue Jays and Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) are talking about the parameters of a new player-development contract. It’s a match made in heaven: it brings the Blue Jays back to the International League at a ballpark close to home, and it […]
Twins to meet with Cedar Rapids front office about affiliation: report
Reps from the Minnesota Twins will reportedly be in Cedar Rapids today to tour Veterans Memorial Stadium and meet with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low Class A; Midwest League) about an affiliation deal. The Kernels cut ties with former parent Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the end of this season in hopes of landing […]
Cards back to State College for 2013-2014
The St. Louis Cardinals are returning to the State College Spikes (short season A; NY-Penn League) in the first major shift in the affiliation arrangements for 2013-2014, according to a published report. It’s no secret there were tensions between the Spikes and former parent Pittsburgh Pirates this past season, with Spikes management complaining about the […]
MountainStar: Deal to bring Triple-A to El Paso could fall through if ballpark not approved
With support on the City Council for a new downtown ballpark wobbly, MountainStar Sports warns that bringing a Triple-A team to El Paso is contingent on a ballpark lease being passed Tuesday — but a key council member has declared her opposition to any deal without a public vote. With Mayor John Cook poised to […]
Debate emerges over Birmingham Negro Leagues museum
When the new home of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League) opens next spring, a planned museum honoring Negro League history won’t be open — though it is fully funded. The issue: how to program the museum in the face of criticism from Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick, who says the world doesn’t […]
JetHawks, Astros extend PDC
The Lancaster JetHawks (High Class A; California League) and the Houston Astros extended their player development contract (PDC) through the 2014 season. “The fans in Lancaster who cheer the JetHawks on at the Hangar are among the best in Minor League baseball,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “We hope to continue to field winning […]
MountainStar, El Paso amend proposed ballpark lease
MountainStar Sports Group, working to bring the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) to a new downtown El Paso ballpark, has agreed to several lease changes designed to bring more money to city coffers and drops a noncompete clause with the El Paso Diablos (independent; American Association). The changes come after some City Council […]
El Paso mayor: I can still scuttle ballpark deal
El Paso Mayor John Cook says he may veto a proposed deal for a new Triple-A downtown ballpark, and there’s a chance the City Council may lack the votes to override it. Cook, an opponent of building a new ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), has the power to veto […]
Mandalay, Wilmington, Braves agree to ballpark lease
The city of Wilmington (N.C.), Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a lease for a proposed waterfront ballpark — if voters agree to fund it via property-tax hike in the November elections. That’s a big if, of course, and we’re hearing that polling in the field has the referendum going down, but […]