Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB: California League to Contract High Desert, Bakersfield

By Jason Burke

Aug 2, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of a Texas Rangers hat and glasses in the dugout during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 2, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of a Texas Rangers hat and glasses in the dugout during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After months of speculation, MLB is expected to announce on Monday that both the High Desert Mavericks and Bakersfield Blaze will be contracted before 2017, leaving the California League with eight teams.

According to Today’s Knuckleball, the official announcement should come this afternoon. High Desert, the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, has had an ongoing legal dispute with the city threatening to evict the Mavericks, and the team suing the city. This has been going on for some time now, and the theory out there was that if one other big league team would move their affiliate to the Carolina League, then there could be some major shakeups in the Cal League.

That one team happened to be the Bakersfield Blaze, the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, who have also been involved in rumors about leaving their affiliate after purchasing a controlling interest in the Modesto Nuts.

The Nuts are currently affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, and if you listen to the Purple Dinosaur Podcast (devoted to the Rockies and their farm system), then you likely know the team’s jingle.

More from Call to the Pen

If you’re keeping score at home, we have the Rangers leaving the California League in favor of the Carolina League, and Seattle moving affiliates from Bakersfield to Modesto. Of course, none of this is official, as there is still a minor league season going on, but this is the not-so-secret plan that appears to be unfolding.

So what happens with the Rockies when the Mariners take their affiliate? There are also rumors that the Astros, who have an affiliate in Lancaster, California, would join the Rangers in the move east, vacating the Lancaster franchise. That would then leave them open to signing an agreement with the Rockies.

With the League going from ten teams to eight, one eight team division is expected to form with the remaining affiliates from Arizona, Oakland, Colorado, San Francisco, San Diego and both Los Angeles teams.

Next: 5 Teams That Could Contend in 2017

Entering play on Monday, the High Desert Mavericks have already clinched a spot in the postseason with their play from a 43-27 first half, earning them a first round bye. High Desert also has the best overall record in the Cal League at 74-52, percentage points over Visalia. The Blaze (31-26) currently hold a three-game lead over Visalia in the division and San Jose in the wild card race with 13 games left on the schedule. Visalia won the North division in the first half.

Home/MLB Prospects