MLB: Multiple Teams Getting Ready to Play Offseason Minor League Affiliation Shuffle

Multiple MLB teams are getting ready to change affiliations this offseason in the minor leagues. Which teams may be changing?

Every two seasons, there are dozens of minor league teams that change their MLB affiliations. Now with two MLB clubs changing their high-A affiliate from a California League team to a new Carolina League team, that adds even more to the changes. In fact, right now, only the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins DON’T have an affiliate that will be expiring after this season. Over the next few pages, you’ll have a breakdown of all the affiliates about to be up for grabs. Some of these may sign before the start of the 2017 team.

AAA

Pacific Coast League

• Colorado Springs SkySox – The Brewers just moved to Colorado Springs in 2015, so it’d be odd to see them move out so quickly, but then again, that’s how this all works.
• Las Vegas 51s – The Mets have only been in Vegas a bit longer than the Brewers in Colorado Springs, as they began their affiliation in 2013. With the organization’s focus on pitching, it’s hard to imagine that a PCL affiliation will continue, but there are not any real openings in the International League that don’t have fairly long-standing ties.
• Tacoma Rainiers – The Seattle Mariners have had an affiliation with Tacoma since 1995, one of the longest-standing affiliations in the PCL, so it’d be surprising to see this one end.

International League

• Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Currently a Phillies affiliate. The Phillies have been in Lehigh Valley since the 2008 season.
• Pawtucket Red Sox – One of the rare team-named associations not owned by the team itself, the contract with Pawtucket ends this season. However, the Red Sox have had their AAA affiliate at Pawtucket for all but one season since 1973, so it’s most likely that this will remain a Red Sox affiliate.
• Toledo Mud Hens – One of the more iconic minor league logos, the Mud Hens have been in the Tigers organization since 1987 consecutively, and were the AAA affiliate from 1967-1973 as well.

Next: AA changes

High-A

California League

• Bakersfield Blaze – One of the two organizations folding after 2016, Bakersfield has had minor league affiliation for 75 years, but the team simply cannot keep up their facilities any longer, and the environment in the area is a major run scoring one, skewing results and leading Major League teams not to want to play there. The Mariners are currently affiliated with Bakersfield, and they’ve not announced their intentions at this time.
• High Desert Mavericks – The second team closing its doors is the High Desert affiliate, currently affiliated with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have already worked out a deal with a new Carolina League team in Kinston to begin play in 2017.
  Lake Elsinore Storm – Currently affiliated with the Padres, the Storm have been stable in their affiliation since 2001, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
• Lancaster JetHawks – The Houston Astros have been affiliated with Lancaster since 2009, so it’s not a long-term relationship, but from all accounts, it’s a very positive relationship and discussions were already underway to extend the contract between the two.
• Modesto Nuts – For over a decade now, the Colorado Rockies have been associated with Modesto, their fourth high-A affiliate in their existence since 1993.
• Visalia Rawhide – The Diamondbacks have been in Visalia now for 10 years, so there’s some length in their relationship, and Arizona has been a member of the Cal League their entire existence in three affiliates, so if it isn’t Visalia, they’ll stay in the league.

Carolina League

• Carolina Mudcats – The Braves have only been associated with Carolina for two seasons as they basically swapped high-A affiliates with the Indians after the 2014 season. The Indians, however, signed a four-year pact with Lynchburg. Carolina is the only non-team-owned affiliate of the Braves system, so it would not be surprising if the relationship ended after 2016.
• Myrtle Beach Pelicans – The Cubs have been with Myrtle Beach for two seasons after joining the Carolina League from the Florida State League. From all accounts, they have a good relationship, but money can talk, and another location could sway the Cubs.
• Potomac Nationals – Part of the affiliation with the Washington Nationals has been changing their name since the affiliation began in 2005. With that 12 year-relationship, however, there is a strong likelihood that an extension will be worked out to continue.
• Wilmington Blue Rocks – Since 1993, the Kansas City Royals have been affiliated with Wilmington for all but 2 seasons, so it’s very likely that this relationship will continue.

Florida State League

• Brevard County Manatees – The Milwaukee Brewers have been with Brevard County since they chose to leave the Cal League in 2005, so it’s quite likely this will be renewed.
• Charlotte Stone Crabs – The Tampa Bay Rays have been affiliated with Charlotte since 2009, when they made a number of minor league changes, but they’ve been stable across their entire organization since, so it’d be surprising to see them jump ship.

Next: Low-A changes

Low-A

Midwest League

• Beloit Snappers – The A’s have been affiliated with Beloit since 2013. While Beloit has been running a team consecutively since 1982, there have been three teams associated with the franchise.
• Bowling Green Hot Rods – Bowling Green has been affiliated with the Rays since 2009, and the organization typically moves all at once, so if there was a move, it’d be multiple levels that would move to a new spot.
• Clinton LumberKings – The Mariners have been with Clinton since 2009 and in the Midwest League since 1993, so staying within the league is most likely.
• Dayton Dragons – Dayton has been affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds since 2000. It would be surprising to see them change this affiliation.
• Fort Wayne Tincaps – The Padres have had a long relationship with Fort Wayne, having had a team there since 1999.
• Lake County Captains – The Indians moved from Columbus, where they now have their AAA location, to Lake County in 2003. From all accounts, the relationship between city and MLB organization is very good.
• Lansing Lugnuts – In 2003, the last time this many Midwest League teams were open, the Blue Jays moved to Lansing. They have been part of the Carolina League previously, so there are options for the organization to move certainly.

South Atlantic League

• Augusta GreenJackets – Since they re-established a low-A club in 2001, the Giants have always been in the Sally League, so even if they ended their 10 year relationship with Augusta, it’d be for another team within the league, most likely.
• Charleston Riverdogs – The Yankees are known for cultivating long-standing relationships with their affiliates. They’ve now been with Charleston for 10 years, so it’s likely they’ll stay with their relationship there.
• Columbia Fireflies – The Mets and Columbia have only had a relationship for one season after moving their team from Savannah, ending Savannah’s consecutive run since 1968 of hosting a team. The relationship is difficult is to gauge due to that recency.

Next: Short-Season and Rookie League

Short-Season

New York-Penn League

• Aberdeen IronBirds – The Orioles have had an association with Aberdeen since they started a short-season team in 2002. It’d be most likely that they will keep the relationship with Aberdeen.
• Auburn Doubledays – The Nationals initially kept the short-season team in Vermont that was part of the Montreal Expos, but in 2011, they moved their affiliation to Auburn, so it’d be interesting to see them change now.
• Batavia Muckdogs – In their 24 years of existence, the Marlins have had 4 short-season locations. They’ve been with Batavia since 2013.
• Hudson Valley Renegades – Hudson Valley is the only short-season affiliate that the Rays have ever known, so that would surprise me greatly if they changed.
• West Virginia Black Bears – The Pirates actually have clubs in both low-A and short-season ball in West Virginia. It will be interesting to see if they stick with the team as they have bounced around a number of short-season affiliates (5 in the last 20 years).
• State College Spikes – The Cardinals changed to State College for their NYPL affiliate in 2013, but they’ve been part of the league for over 20 years. However, I don’t think they’re locked into staying with State College.

Northwest League

• Everett AquaSox – The Mariners have had a relationship with Everett for over 20 years, so I cannot imagine this would change any time soon.
• Salem-Keizer Volcanoes – 2017 would be the Giants’ 20th season with Salem-Keizer, so they have a long history and will likely stick in the location.
• Spokane Indians – The Rangers have been in Spokane since they started a short-season team in 2003. The Indians are a rare team that share a nickname with a major league club, but they actually were the Indians as an independent team as far back as 1903.

Next: Baseball's Midseason Top Ten Prospects

Lower-level rookie league teams in the Gulf Coast League or Arizona Rookie League are team-owned and therefore, not subject to the affiliation issues, but the advanced rookie levels are not so lucky:

Advanced Rookie

Appalachian League

• Bluefield Blue Jays – Only three teams in the entire Appy League are not team-owned, and Bluefield is the one that has changed hands most frequently, most recently becoming a Blue Jays affiliate in 2011.
• Pulaski Yankees – The Yankees have only had an advanced rookie squad for two seasons, both in Pulaski. Whether they decide that is still worth it or not will be interesting to see.

Pioneer League

• Ogden Raptors – The Dodgers have been affiliated with Ogden since 2003. That was a move after the end of a 20-year relationship with Great Falls, so they do value long-term relationships at their lower levels.
• Orem Owlz – For 10 years, the Angels have worked with Orem. They will likely stick with the same relationship going forward, barring some unforeseen events.