MiLB Off-Season News & Notes

[garnetpalmetto]

Catch-up time here:

New Markets

• Huntsville, AL seems coming along as a landing spot for the relocation of the Mobile BayBears (Double-A, Southern League). The Madison Planning Commission approved a zoning change that would permit construction of a multipurpose facility at Town Madison and the sale of the Mobile BayBears to the Arizona-based ownership group seeking to move them to Madison has been approved. Mobile, meanwhile, is seeking to make a pitch to the new owners, BallCorps, LLC to keep the team in Mobile. It seems futile as one of Town Madison's developers was named an investor in the BayBears.
  
• Greeneville, TN is seeking a team to replace the Astros which left Pioneer Park this off-season. Three teams, the Phillies, Reds, and Indians, vied for the rights to Greeneville. The Reds say they've won the rights to the market but there's no deal in place yet that would see the Reds return baseball to Greeneville.
  
• Wichita, KS has been without affiliated ball since the Wichita Wranglers left for Northwest Arkansas after 2007. Beacon Sports has been hired by the city of Wichita to help lure a team to the new park being built to replace Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Mayor Jeff Longwell had previously stated that by the end of 2017, Wichita would be able to announce a team looking to relocate to the city. Thus far that's not born out but in the last week, Longwell has said that a PCL team is looking to move to Wichita and that he can only announce the team after MLB Winter Meetings. Personally I still think a Texas League team is more likely now that Colorado Springs is San Antonio-bound.
  
• Camden, NJ can be removed from the list of potential new markets for the New York-Penn League as the city of Camden begins plans to demolish Campbell's Field. Built in 2001, Campbell's was the home of the Camden Riversharks. Once the Riversharks left there was wide speculation that the park's widely lauded facilities could house a relocated team from the New York-Penn League, but that never came to fruition due to a combination of costs associated with raising the park to MiLB standards and due to opposition from the Phillies.

New Parks

• The Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A, International League) are still on the hunt for a new home with great debate in the Rhode Island legislature as to funding for a new park as well as a special taxing district surrounding the ballpark site. The plan to keep the Sox in Pawtucket would see them move to a facility built on the site of an Apex department store in an $83M deal that would see the PawSox contribute $45M ($12M upfront, the rest in paybacks on money borrowed by the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency), $23M from the state (with the PawSox committed to paying the money back) and $15M from the city of Pawtucket. Despite support from the governor and treasurer of Rhode Island and Pawtucket's city counsel, the legislature has put off calendaring any vote on funding until next year. Additionally, on the back of a request to the team for their financial data, the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee has released a revised funding proposal. Under the new proposal, naming rights for the new stadium would be split evenly between the PawSox and Pawtucket (previously the team was the sold beneficiary of that revenue) and would increase the amount of bonds that could be taken out for the stadium to $85M. Meanwhile, the Sox have been quietly continuing negotiations for a new ballpark in Massachusetts, with sites in Worcester and Attleboro in play. The Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, has signaled support for the Worcester bid to land the PawSox, whose lease on McCoy Stadium is set to expire in 2020.
• The Boise Hawks (Short Season-A, Northwest League) are seeking a new park in downtown Boise to replace Memorial Stadium, built in 1989. The proposed $40M, 5,000 seat park would be multiuse (minor league soccer and college baseball have been mentioned) and would be the centerpiece for new development. However, a group led by the former CEO of Boise-based grocery chain Albertsons, has formed to oppose the new park. The group, Concerned Boise Taxpayers, claim that a meeting conducted by the Greater Boise Auditorium District, was conducted illegally and have sent a letter to the Ada County prosecutor's office to that effect.
  
• Elmore Sports Group has signed a lease on a new ballpark in Amarillo, TX and construction contracts have been awarded on the park. The park will house the relocating San Antonio Missions (Double-A, Texas League) once the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) relocate to San Antonio as part of a 2019 multi-team move. The lease also features a non-relocation clause which would bind the team to the city.
  
• Downtown Summerlin, a mixed use retail and office complex being built by Howard Hughes Corporation, looks to be the new home of the Las Vegas 51s. The new park would be built next to the training facility for the Vegas Golden Knights. A naming rights deal has been struck with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority where the LVCVA will pay $80M over the span of 20 years for the naming rights to Las Vegas Ballpark. The deal also gives the LVCVA rights to put on up to 100 events annually in the park as well as two MLB spring-training exhibition games and two other MLB exhibition games. Las Vegas Ballpark is slated to open in 2019 and the 51s would then move there from Cashman Field.
  
• Richmond's long nightmare of replacing The Diamond may be at an end as the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has conducted a study that has found that moving the state's central liquor warehouse, located across from The Diamond, is more viable than staying put. Should the warehouse relocate, it would allow a new park to be built there for the Flying Squirrels (Double-A, Eastern League) and VCU to share while redeveloping the current site of The Diamond. The Department will seek formal permission from Virginia's general assembly to relocate their warehouse when the legislature reconvenes in January.

New Branding

• The Danville Braves (Rookie, Appalachian League) have unveiled their 25th anniversary logo

• The two finalists for the name of the new Fayetteville, NC (High-A, Carolina League) team are Fatbacks and Woodpeckers. The team will play one more year as the Buies Creek Astros while their new park is being built in Fayetteville.
  
• The Iowa Cubs (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) have released a 50th anniversary logo

• The Hudson Valley Renegades (Short Season-A, New York-Penn League) have new logos, uniforms, and 25th anniversary logos for the upcoming season designed by Studio Simon

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• The Augusta GreenJackets have new logos and a custom team plaid pattern, all designed by Brandiose

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• The Birmingham Barons (Double-A, Southern League) will sport "Magic City" alternate jerseys this season

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• The Gwinnett Braves (Triple-A, International League) have announced their new name will be the Gwinnet Stripers and have released their new logos and uniforms. The other contenders for the new name were Big Mouths, Buttons, Gobblers, Hush Puppies, Lambchops, and Sweet Teas. The new logo was designed by Brandiose. This makes the Durham Bulls the only team in the IL's South Division not to have Brandiose-designed branding.

• The Altoona Curve (Double-A, Eastern League) will debut new caps and a 20th anniversary logo

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• The Tampa Yankees (High-A, Florida State League) are rebranding and will now be the Tampa Tarpons. They've unveiled logos designed by Studio Simon and will be unveiling jerseys in January

Team News

• The Milwaukee Brewers completed their purchase of the Carolina Mudcats (High-A, Carolina League), locking the Mudcats in as the High-A affiliate of the Brewers henceforth. This brings some stability to the Mudcats who've been affiliated with the Indians, Braves, and Brewers since moving down to High-A.
  
• The New York Mets completed their purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs (Triple-A, International League) for $18M, locking the Chiefs in as the Triple-A affiliate of the Mets once the current affiliation with the Nationals ends after the 2018 season. The Las Vegas 51s will have to look for a new affiliate at that time as well.
  
• The Texas Rangers completed their purchase of the Hickory Crawdads (Low-A, South Atlantic League), locking the Crawdads in as their Low-A affiliate henceforth. The Rangers now own both of their NC affiliates - the Crawdads and the High-A Down East Wood Ducks.
  
• The Chicago White Sox and the Charlotte Knights (Triple-A, International League) will play each other in an exhibition game in March of 2018 in Charlotte's BB&T Ballpark
• The Potomac Nationals (High-A, Carolina League) have extended their lease at Pfitzner Stadium through 2020 as they continue to look for a new ballpark to replace Pfitzner. The extension gives them more time to attempt to secure a new stadium in Prince William County or find a relocation sport as their current lease expired following the 2018 season.
• The Batavia Muckdogs (Short Season-A, New York-Penn League) are at a crossroads as the operating agreement they had with the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, International League) has expired. Under the agreement, the Muckdogs were owned by the Gennesee County Baseball Club but operated by the Red Wings. With the expiration of that agreement and the New York-Penn League's seeming reluctance to allow it to continue it leaves the question as to who, if anyone, would operate the Muckdogs in 2018.

Player Development Contracts

• The Tampa Bay Rays and Princeton Rays (Rookie, Appalachian League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Tampa Bay Rays and Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low-A, South Atlantic League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Tampa Bay Rays and Hudson Valley Renegades (Short Season A, New York-Penn League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The San Francisco Giants and Augusta GreenJackets (Low-A, South Atlantic League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Cleveland Indians and Columbus Clippers (Triple-A, International League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Cincinnati Reds and Louisville Bats (Triple-A, International League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Tampa Bay Rays and Durham Bulls (Triple-A, International League) have extended their PDC through 2020.
  
• The Texas Rangers and Round Rock Express (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) look like they'll be parting ways at the conclusion of their PDC after the 2018 season. The Express look to affiliate with the Astros while the Rangers are interested in San Antonio once Triple-A ball moves there.

Also, rest in peace Myron Noodleman. Noodleman (real name Rick Hader) was baseball's 5th Clown Prince of Baseball and passed away on November 1st after a battle with a rare form of sinus cancer. Hader, a former high school teacher and the uncle of SNL's Bill Hader, was 59 and had been performing before baseball crowds as Noodleman since 1994.

Click to read more...

 

[garnetpalmetto]

The Colorado Rockies and the Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League) have renewed their PDC through 2020.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

With regards to the Batavia Muckdogs, it looks like the New York-Penn League will operate the team for the 2018 season. It's speculated that this would pave the way for the Muckdogs to be sold as the Genesee County Baseball Club board also voted to cease their role with the team. That raises the question of whether the Muckdogs will stay in Batavia if they're unable to find ownership that wants to keep them in the market.

 

[BigMac1212]

Sad news in Class AA: The Trenton Thunder (Eastern League; Yankees Affiliate) announced that their bat dog, Derby, passed away at 9 due to cancer. Here's the announcement on MilB.com:

Team Bat Dog, Derby, Passes Away At Age 9

I am truly sad for the Thunder. Having a dog retrieving bats (no pun intended) is truly an unique feature at the ballpark. And Derby was a handsome Golden Retriever (thus the "no pun intended" warning.) My condolences for Derby's owner, the Arm & Hammer Park owners, & the Trenton Thunder management and fans.

Edit: The article was on MiLB.com, not the Trenton Thunder website.

 

[BigMac1212]

The Greeneville Astros (Rookie Advance; Appalachian League) have officially announced they will be changing to the Greeneville Reds:

Appy League welcomes the Greeneville Reds

Not bad. Looks decent.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Rochester Red Wings could be splitting home dates in either Syracuse or Buffalo, as the lease renewal over Frontier Field becomes critical----Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Red Wings extend lease for another decade---update

 

[garnetpalmetto]

New uniforms in the Bull City this season

The Bulls' iconic block D.

Durham.

The Bull City.

A city rich with history and attitude deserves to be honored as such, and the Durham Bulls' new uniforms for the 2018 season blend both the history and pride the City exudes.

The team's new home jersey hearkens back to the Bulls' uniforms from the mid-2000s, as the famous 'D' logo returns to a prominent spot on the front of the uniform. However, the numbers on the front and back jump off the jersey in the team's burnt orange, a stark contrast to the blue 'D.'

Moving forward, it was important that 'Durham' return to the front of the team's road jersey. In the last iteration of the Bulls' away uniform, only the team name emblazoned the front. Now, the city the team calls home will be prominently featured for road games.

Finally, the Bulls' new alternate jersey is all about Bull City pride. The team's Snorting Bull has been removed from the block 'D,' and inside the word 'City' is proudly featured. The burnt orange resting on the blue makes for a bright, vibrant uniform that players can wear with dignity.

From designer Brian Begley: "The Bull City design is one of my favorites. Using just the bull from the primary logo, I created the lettering for, 'CITY' to fill the guts of this element. This design represents the winning Durham community with history and class."

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Some more PDC updates

• The El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) and the San Diego Padres have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
• The Pawtucket Red Sox (Triple-A, International League) and the Boston Red Sox have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
  
• The Harrisburg Senators (Double-A, Eastern League) and the Washington Nationals have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
  
• The Columbia Fireflies (Low-A, South Atlantic League) and the New York Mets have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
  
• The Connecticut Tigers (Short Season-A, New York-Penn League) and the Detroit Tigers have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
• The Lowell Spinners (Short Season-A, New York-Penn League) and the Boston Red Sox have extended their PDC through the 2020 season; and
  
• The Vancouver Canadians (Short Season-A, Northwest League) and the Toronto Blue Jays have extended their PDC through the 2022 season.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

The Tampa Tarpons (High-A, Florida State League) unveiled their uniforms yesterday. I like the teal vest but overall the designs remind me of the early '90s Marlins set.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

• The Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A, International League) and the Detroit Tigers have extended their PDC through the 2020 season;
• The Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A, Southern League) and the Tampa Bay Rays have extended their PDC through the 2020 season

Also, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the commissioning of ex-USS Lexington (CV-16), the Corpus Christi Hooks will change their name to the Corpus Christi Blue Ghosts from June 21 through June 23. "The Blue Ghost" was the Lexington's nickname while she was in service. Commissioned on February 17th, 1943, Lexington was the 8th Essex class aircraft carrier. She was originally to be named the Cabot before her predecessor, the USS Lexington (CV-2) sank during the Battle of the Coral Sea in World War II. The 5th ship to bear the name, Lexington was later used as a training carrier before being finally decommissioned in 1991 and converted into a museum ship docked in Corpus Christi. Paging @Beef Invictus for the crossover between warships and baseball.