Minor League Baseball News

[rams80 4,278]

7 hours ago, B-Rich said:

 

What Wichita did:

 

"The Class AA affiliate will switch from Pensacola, Fla., to Wichita. According to the Wichita Eagle, the announcement will be met with disappointment in a city that raised taxes to help pay for $75 million Riverfront Stadium to try and lure a Class AAA team. But the Wind Surge will leave the Pacific Coast League without ever having played a AAA game — it was based in New Orleans before 2020, and the past minor league season was wiped out by the pandemic.

Wichita hasn’t had a Class AAA team for nearly 40 years."

 

That Pensacola ballpark is less than a decade old and was built for a team that got driven out of business by affiliated ball.  That surely won't be brought up when MLB goes around the area hat in hand in a few years.

[sportsfan7 439]

4 minutes ago, rams80 said:

 

That Pensacola ballpark is less than a decade old and was built for a team that got driven out of business by affiliated ball.  That surely won't be brought up when MLB goes around the area hat in hand in a few years.

Unless something changes, the Blue Wahoos will be playing in the Southern League next year.

[B-Rich 1,230]

21 hours ago, sportsfan7 said:

Unless something changes, the Blue Wahoos will be playing in the Southern League next year.

 

Yes, pretty sure one of the initial articles said they would be affiliated with the Marlins (whose current AA team-- Jacksonville-- is becoming their AAA team).

[BigEd76 329]

Looks like they won't be announcing anything until next week.

 

From what I've been reading, here's where things stand as of now:

(* = unofficial but expected based on reports) Atlanta path = GCL > Rome > ___ > Mississippi > Gwinnett Miami path = GCL > Jupiter > Asheville* > Pensacola* > Jacksonville* NY Mets path = GCL > St. Lucie > Brooklyn > Binghamton > Syracuse Philadelphia path = GCL > Clearwater > Jersey Shore* > Reading > Lehigh Valley Washington path = GCL > Fredericksburg* > Wilmington* > Harrisburg > Rochester Chicago Cubs path = AZL > Myrtle Beach* > South Bend* > Tennessee* > Iowa Cincinnati path = AZL > Daytona* > Dayton* > Chattanooga* > Louisville Milwaukee path = AZL > Carolina* > Wisconsin* > Biloxi* > Nashville* Pittsburgh path = GCL > Bradenton > Greensboro* > Altoona > Indianapolis St. Louis path = GCL > Palm Beach > Peoria* > Springfield > Memphis Arizona path = AZL > Visalia > Hillsboro* > San Antonio* > Reno Colorado path = AZL > Fresno* > Boise* > Hartford* > Albuquerque LA Dodgers path = AZL > Rancho Cucamonga > Spokane* > Tulsa > Oklahoma City San Diego path = AZL > Lake Elsinore > ___ > Amarillo* > El Paso San Francisco path = AZL > San Jose > ___ > Richmond* > Sacramento Baltimore path = GCL > Delmarva > Aberdeen > Bowie > Norfolk Boston path = GCL > Salem > Greenville* > Portland > Worcester NY Yankees path = GCL > Tampa > Hudson Valley > Somerset > Scranton/WB Tampa Bay path = GCL > ___ > Charleston* > Montgomery > Durham Toronto path = GCL > Dunedin > Vancouver* > New Hampshire > Buffalo Chicago WS path = AZL > Kannapolis > Winston-Salem > Birmingham > Charlotte Cleveland path = AZL > Lynchburg* > Lake County* > Akron > Columbus Detroit path = GCL > Lakeland > West Michigan* > Erie* > Toledo Kansas City path = AZL > ___ > ___ > Northwest Arkansas* > Omaha Minnesota path = GCL > Fort Myers > Cedar Rapids* > Wichita* > St. Paul* Houston path = GCL > Fayetteville* > Beloit* > Corpus Christi > Sugar Land LA Angels path = AZL > Inland Empire > ___ > Rocket City* > Salt Lake Oakland path = AZL > Stockton > Lansing* > Midland* > Las Vegas Seattle path = AZL > Modesto > Everett > Arkansas > Tacoma Texas path = AZL > Down East* > Hickory* > Frisco* > Round Rock*

[sportsfan7 439]

My best guess given @BigEd76's chart:

 

AAA

 

International League
Syracuse Mets
Rochester Red Wings
Buffalo Bison
Worcester Red Sox
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Norfolk Tides
Durham Bulls
Charlotte Knights
Gwinett Stripers
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Nashville Sounders
Memphis Redbirds
Louisville Bats
Columbus Clippers
Toledo Mud Hens
Indianapolis Indians
St Paul Saints
Iowa Cubs
Omaha Storm Chasers

 

PCL
Oklahoma City Dodgers
Round Rock Express
Sugar Land Skeeters
El Paso Chihuahuas
Albuquerque Isotopes
Salt Lake Bees
Las Vegas Aviators
Reno Aces
Sacramento River Cats
Tacoma Rainiers

 

AA

 

Eastern League
Portland Sea Dogs
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Hartford Yard Goats
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Somerset Patriots
Reading Fightin Phils

Harrisburg Senators

Akron RubberDucks
Erie SeaWolves
Altoona Curve
Bowie BaySox
Richmond Flying Squirrels

 

Southern League
Tennessee Smokies
Chattanooga Lookouts
Rocket City Trash Pandas
Birmingham Barons
Montgomery Biscuits
Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Mississippi Braves
Biloxi Shuckers

 

Texas League
Wichita Wind Surge
Springfield Cardinals
Tulsa Drillers
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Arkansas Travelers
Amarillo Sod Poodles
Frisco RoughRiders
Midland RockHounds
San Antonio Missions
Corpus Christi Hooks

 

High-A

 

Northwest League
Everett AquaSox
Spokane Indians
Vancouver Canadians
Boise Hawks
Eugene Emeralds (Affiliate of the Giants or Padres or Angels)
Hillsboro Hops

 

Mid-Atlantic League
Brooklyn Cyclones
Hudson Valley Renegades
Jersey Shore Blueclaws
Wilmington Blue Rocks

Aberdeen IronBirds
1 of Frederick Keys/Tri-City ValleyCats

 

Carolina League

Asheville Tourists
Greensboro Grasshoppers
Winston-Salem Dash
Hickory Crawdads
Greenville Drive

Charleston RiverDogs

 

Midwest League
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Beloit Snappers
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Peoria Chiefs

South Bend Cubs
Western Michigan Whitecaps
Lansing Lugnuts
Dayton Dragons
Lake County Captains

3 of Fort Wayne/Great Lakes/Kane County/Bowling Green

 

It is also possible that the MWL only adds 1 team and either Salem-Keizer  and Tri-City stay in the NWL or Augusta and Columbia join the Carolina League.

 

Low-A

 

California League

Stockton Ports
Modesto Nuts
San Jose Giants
Fresno Grizzlies
Visalia Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Inland Empire 66ers
Lake Elsinore Storm

 

Florida State League

Daytona Tortugas
Lakeland Flying Tigers
Clearwater Threshers
Tampa Tarpons
Dunedin Blue Jays
Bradenton Marauders
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
St. Lucie Mets
Jupiter Hammerheads
Palm Beach Cardinals
 

South Atlantic League

Delmarva ShoreBirds
Fredericksburg Nationals
Lynchburg Hillcats
Salem Red Sox
Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Carolina Mudcats
Down East Wood Ducks
Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Columbia Fireflies (Either KC or TB)

Augusta GreenJackets (Same)

Rome Braves

 

It is also possible that Charlotte and Florida stay in the Florida State League instead of Augusta and Columbia joining the Sally.

 

Assuming the teams on BigEd's chart and Eugene are safe, I think that leaves 12 teams fighting for 6 spots.

 

Teams

Tri-City Dust Devils

Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

Tri-City ValleyCats

Frederick Keys

Kane County Cougars

Fort Wayne TinCaps

Great Lakes Loons

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Augusta GreenJackets

Columbia Fireflies

Charlotte Stone Crabs

Florida Fire Frogs

 

Spots

1 Midwest League

1 Mid-Atlantic League

2 High-A (NWL, MWL, or Carolina)

2 Low-A (FSL or Sally)

[Brian in Boston 2,835]

Ownership of the Staten Island Yankees has announced that the team is ceasing operations and that they have filed a lawsuit against the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball seeking legal remedies.

Staten Island Yankees shutting down, suing MLB and New York Yankees

"The Staten Island Yankees are ceasing operations and have filed a lawsuit seeking legal remedies.

"The New York Yankees announced on November 7, 2020 that the Staten Island Yankees were no longer part of the Yankees minor league affiliation structure, even though the Yankees had made repeated assurances we would always be a minor league partner.

"Although we still have not heard this from the Yankees directly, it would appear from their press release that they would like us to go from the past arrangement in which the Staten Island Yankees were an affiliated minor league team of the New York Yankees - where we facilitated player development and brand exposure, among other benefits to the New York Yankees - to one in which we play unaffiliated baseball with no relationship to the Yankees whatsoever.

"This would force Staten Island to field a subpar team with players that have no connection to the Yankees farm system. Additionally, this would require additional expenses including payroll for players, coaches and staff. Unfortunately, that additional expense and the loss of the connection to the Yankees in our shared city makes it impossible for the Staten Island Yankees to pursue this business model.

"The best thing we can do for the community is step to aside and let others try to save baseball in Staten Island. While we have invested considerable resources into the development of the North Shore, and hoped to remain a piece of that renewal, we have not been offered support to create a sustainable business entity.

"Accordingly, with great regret, we must cease operations. Earlier today we filed a lawsuit against the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball to hold those entities accountable for false promises. A portion of any settlement or jury verdict will go to the Staten Island Yankees Foundation to be distributed to local Staten Island charities like the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Person Centered Care Services. All outstanding ticket purchases will be fully funded upon request.

"To the fans and community of Staten Island we offer our sincere thanks for supporting our team and all of its employees over the years."   

[BigEd76 329]

FSL is expected to be 10 teams, so it would be 12 in SAL

[sportsfan7 439]

52 minutes ago, BigEd76 said:

FSL is expected to be 10 teams, so it would be 12 in SAL

That's what I figured, but Tampa was one of the teams without a Low-A affiliate and I hadn't seen Charlotte on any of the cut lists, so I figured I'd leave the door open.

[DiePerske 2,116]

Where is the new Fredericksburg is going to low A? All the talks i'm seeing is either staying high A or, inferring what ghiroli said on twitter, them moving up to AA.

[TBGKon 2,683]

I’ve seen a few folks in this thread say that the Charlotte Stone Crabs would be one of the teams folding in the FSL.  Where exactly is this coming from?

 

The Florida Fire Frogs are likely one of the ones to fold as they are pretty much homeless.  Daytona is the other team at a non spring training venue, but are one of the more popular teams in the FSL based on attendance.  I kinda hope someone falls on the sword for Daytona to survive.  

[sportsfan7 439]

2 hours ago, TBGKon said:

I’ve seen a few folks in this thread say that the Charlotte Stone Crabs would be one of the teams folding in the FSL.  Where exactly is this coming from?

 

The Florida Fire Frogs are likely one of the ones to fold as they are pretty much homeless.  Daytona is the other team at a non spring training venue, but are one of the more popular teams in the FSL based on attendance.  I kinda hope someone falls on the sword for Daytona to survive.  

The problem is, in order for the Fire Frogs to fold, someone else in the FSL has to as well. Unfortunately for Charlotte, 8 of the 12 FSL teams are owned by MLB teams and won't be cut, while Fort Myers has been all but confirmed to be back as a Twins affiliate and the Fire Frogs are as good as gone. That leaves one of Daytona or Charlotte on the chopping block. Personally, I think Daytona is gone, since they don't play in a Spring Training facility and were on both cut lists (Baseball America and New York Times). For the alignment I listed above, however, I used what @BigEd76 had written out. Unfortunately, it looks like if you want Daytona to survive, Charlotte will have to be the ones that fall on the sword.

[flasah 14]

6 hours ago, sportsfan7 said:

My best guess given @BigEd76's chart:

AA

Eastern League
Portland Sea Dogs
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Hartford Yard Goats
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Somerset Patriots
Reading Fightin Phils
Akron RubberDucks
Erie SeaWolves
Altoona Curve
Bowie BaySox
Richmond Flying Squirrels

That's 11, you forgot the Harrisburg Senators

[sportsfan7 439]

9 minutes ago, flasah said:

That's 11, you forgot the Harrisburg Senators

Fixed

[TBGKon 2,683]

11 hours ago, sportsfan7 said:

The problem is, in order for the Fire Frogs to fold, someone else in the FSL has to as well. Unfortunately for Charlotte, 8 of the 12 FSL teams are owned by MLB teams and won't be cut, while Fort Myers has been all but confirmed to be back as a Twins affiliate and the Fire Frogs are as good as gone. That leaves one of Daytona or Charlotte on the chopping block. Personally, I think Daytona is gone, since they don't play in a Spring Training facility and were on both cut lists (Baseball America and New York Times). For the alignment I listed above, however, I used what @BigEd76 had written out. Unfortunately, it looks like if you want Daytona to survive, Charlotte will have to be the ones that fall on the sword.

I forgot Charlotte wasn’t fully owned by the Rays.  I know Ripken was the original primary owner, but that changed.

[BigEd76 329]

The most recent reports I read were that Daytona survived the cut, which leaves the Rays with a SAL team

[CubsFanBudMan 399]

21 hours ago, sportsfan7 said:

My best guess given @BigEd76's chart:

 [Snip]

 

Midwest League
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Beloit Snappers
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Peoria Chiefs

South Bend Cubs
Western Michigan Whitecaps
Lansing Lugnuts
Dayton Dragons
Lake County Captains

3 of Fort Wayne/Great Lakes/Kane County/Bowling Green

 

It is also possible that the MWL only adds 1 team and either Salem-Keizer  and Tri-City stay in the NWL or Augusta and Columbia join the Carolina League.

 

[Snip]

The Quad Cities River Bandits were reported to be staying in the High A Midwest League on November 30: https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/bandits-set-to-move-one-step-closer-to-the-majors/article_7819cc40-0d71-508a-9955-ee53e3571c0c.html

[TBGKon 2,683]

3 hours ago, BigEd76 said:

The most recent reports I read were that Daytona survived the cut, which leaves the Rays with a SAL team

I presume thats if the affiliation holds in Daytona.  The were with Cincinnati before, but that agreement pretty much is useless after this whole reorg began.

[CubsFanBudMan 399]

And a short drive up the Mississippi River, the alternative Midwest League scenario in Clinton, Iowa for the LumberKings: https://www.clintonherald.com/news/local_news/a-league-of-our-own-l-kings-gm-gives-glimpse-of-clubs-future-if-mlb/article_e06afa30-3585-11eb-aae0-6b10db8c21e8.html

[sportsfan7 439]

1 hour ago, CubsFanBudMan said:

The Quad Cities River Bandits were reported to be staying in the High A Midwest League on November 30: https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/bandits-set-to-move-one-step-closer-to-the-majors/article_7819cc40-0d71-508a-9955-ee53e3571c0c.html

I can find nothing that indicates the River Bandits will be in or out except for owner Dave Heller saying they'll be in, even though its pretty clear they have no way of knowing for sure, just like every other MiLB team that hasn't been subject of an announcement by an MLB team. They were, however, on the New York Times cut list, which is why I excluded them, especially since Beloit, who was listed in their place on the Baseball America list, have started construction on a new stadium.

[rams80 4,278]

I'm pretty sure Quad Cities is one of the best stadiums in the Midwest League.  They were only on the list because Houston made the list and Houston was mad that changes to the local railway made the stadium inaccessible in the event of a Mississippi River flood.