16
2012
Buffalo and Blue Jays Nearing a PDC Agreement
An article by Craig Lerner
Updated Post 9/16
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News writes this morning:
It’s been hush-hush until now because of the rules of the minor and major leagues, but the window for MLB clubs to talk to potential new minor-league affiliates officially opened today — and the Bisons and Toronto Blue Jays are now working on the game’s worst-kept secret.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed to Toronto reporters this morning that the team is speaking to the Bisons about moving their Triple-A club from Las Vegas to Buffalo.
Harrington adds that the only real discussion point is whether the deal will be for two or four years.
As for the Mets, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
You can follow Mike Harrington on Twitter at @BNHarrington.
Original Post 9/11
The Oklahoma City RedHawks and Houston Astros announced today that they have extended their Player Development Contract through 2014, keeping the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City for two more seasons.
“We are very happy to continue our relationship with the Houston Astros,” RedHawks President & General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “The Astros are in the middle of a new and exciting chapter in their franchise’s storied history, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
The RedHawks became an Astros affiliate prior to the 2011 season. After a 68-75 campaign in the inaugural season, the RedHawks improved to 78-65 in 2012. The RedHawks finished in second place in the PCL’s American Southern Division by just 1.5 games, and it was the best record for a non-playoff team in franchise history.
“We are excited to continue our relationship with Oklahoma City and the RedHawks for another two years,” said Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow. “The facility is first rate and the environment is excellent for the highest level of minor league baseball. Our prospects benefit from playing there.”
This pretty much narrows down the field for the Mets, as the list of AAA teams without a PDC for 2013 now stands at two cities, not counting Buffalo who want nothing to do with the Mets and Memphis who is close to a new deal with the Cardinals.
The remaining two possible affiliate cities are Las Vegas and Tucson.
All bets are on Las Vegas.
About the Author: Craig Lerner
I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.
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Las Vegas 51′s? Tucson Mets? Las Vegas 51′s? Tucson Mets?
Ehh, Tucson Mets has a nicer ring to it.
Besides maybe they move their AAA affiliate to Arizona since the Mets I believe have a clause where if there is less than x number of Spring Training teams on the Florida East coast they can opt out of their lease and in effect move which may eventually just make Tucson their Spring training home as well down the road. That’s without considering what the Digital Domain park issue plays into all of this if at all.
They won’t move from Pt. St. Lucie. The Mets fan base is New York and Florida with many NYer natives retire to and vacation to Florida for spring training. I have dropped a bundle at the Holiday Inn Express off exit 121 on I95 in Pt St. Lucie. They have a great breakfast by the way. I don’t golf, fish or hunt but I LUV my Mets! Why not just call the team the Las Vegas Gamblers if they go to Las Vegas or trhe one I like The Las Vegas Crappers (a play on words from the game of craps, I guess if I have to explain it it ain’t no good).
Yeah big deal. I’m tired of the wilpons bull-ish. They suck period. They been sayin build from with in, really cause who’s in charge of player development suck too. Waiting and waiting. I don’t want to hear about the madolf money situation anymore. Please shut your mouths. As a Fan for so loing you the wilpons have killed my heart. It’s you people fault to blame for the mets losing seasons.. Your promises to us fans are nothing. Why can’t u people do the right thing, pack your bags and sell our team. You people like lying to us. Filling our heads with fake thoughts of us winning. Yeah your winning by taking our hard money. You people like taking but never giving anything back to us like a world series. We know as long as you peolpe still own the mets our chances are zero. Thanks you wilpons who should win the all time jack ass award for helping us to be a real winner for along time to come, but with you at the helm our dreams are shattered. So enjoy you winter off, i’m sure you’s will be living it up high on our money taking your vacations and laughing, i hope some day you guys get yours.
As a 16yr resident of Las Vegas, I can’t be more happy, or saddened by the news. Vegas has one of the most antiquated stadiums and facilities in the PCL. I would love to be able to see the mets, but feel sorry for the players.
this will give them even more incentive to keep all the “real” prospects in AA longer then jump to the Mets, and stock AAA with mostly veteran depth guys. Such as Pascucci, or whoever the Vegas equivalent it.
I live in Vegas and while it would be absolutely incredible to have MY team’s AAA affiliate here, in a way I hope not.
Vegas never has been and never will be a baseball town
Buffalo don’t want us…OKC would rather have the regional thing with the ‘Stros who have totally committed to a full rebuild, and will have far more AAA talent in their pipeline. Tucson or Vegas…Really Sin City? That facility makes the movie Major League with the Boat propeller in the metal tub look like a health spa. I was there and saw it 1st hand in ’06…yuck!
Never saw the Tucson facility…Hey if the Wilpon’s and the “Alderson 5″ want to stick their upcoming talent in an inferior facility two time zones away…Really? Fred c’mon…when’s it gonna end?
The Dodgers abandoned their Vero Beach, Florida spring training facility in 2010 for Glendale, Arizona. One of the reasons they gave was that their fans lived mostly in California and the trip to Florida was too far. This cut down on spring training ticket sates, excursion packages and residual commercial sales such as hotels, food and car rentals. Assuming the reason given by the Dodgers holds water, Mets fans will go to fewer spring training games out west because of the travel costs and time involved.
Sorry, but I have not really kept up on this. Why don’t the Bisons want us? This is not a criticism of anyone, it is just a question.
I am not to sure of this but I thought I read somewhere that Buffalo would prefer to be affiliated with the Blue Jays. I guess there is a connection between Buffalo and our neighbors in Canada.
Unfortunately no because the Wilpons have no money so we can’t afford a pt. 2
Which begs the question why have we waited until there are only two teams left to work out an agreement on a AAA Affiliate to sign up with?
Why didn’t they hash out a renewal last offseason?
Why didn’t they negotiate for or look for another team for 2013 last year?
1. It takes two to tango. If Buffalo wasn’t willing to renegotiate, then that’s that.
2. Not allowed. You can’t negotiate with other teams until a relatively small window open (last two weeks of September).
But there are a last two weeks in every september of every year!
Why does this organization always wait until the choices are so slim to make a deal?