Sandy Alderson will be heading out to Las Vegas this weekend to discuss the club’s affiliation with the Las Vegas 51s, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post.
The Mets and 51s have had an affiliation agreement since the 2013 season, after the Buffalo Bisons ditched the Mets for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mets were essentially stuck with Las Vegas, which has caused all sorts of problems. The hitter-friendly run environment both in Las Vegas and in the Pacific Coast League as a whole has made it more difficult to evaluate players and the distance between the two clubs has caused some logistical issues.
Ideally, the Mets would like a team close by and in the International League, rather than the PCL. The Rochester Red Wings are the most logical option and with Terry Ryan gone in Minnesota, they could look into changing parent clubs.
To attract a decent affiliate, the Mets will probably need to show that they can provide them with some decent prospects. The system is certainly not as loaded with big-time talent as it was a few years ago, but names like Gabriel Ynoa, Robert Gsellman, Gavin Cecchini, and Brandon Nimmo could help them reel in a new Triple-A team.
Teams in Toledo, Lehigh Valley, Colorado Springs, or El Paso could be of interest as well. Whatever happens, Las Vegas will probably be the last choice.
