2021 Brewers Affiliates

[LincolnDD]

Carolina to AA only makes sense with a lot of other realignment.

 

True. The Southern League used to have a presence in the Carolinas, but it has migrated more to the West now. That being said, we could see some significant realignment. Ultimately, I don't know if more AA in the Southeast makes a lot of sense (if the goal is to get affiliates closer to their parent clubs), but there are some plausible markets. I live in Charleston SC, and there has been some lobbying here in the past for a more advanced minor league team. I think the market could handle it (seems stronger than my previous home in a dying AA market in Binghamton); ditto Columbia up the road from here. They could pull regional teams from nearby AA leagues (e.g. Jacksonville, Tennessee (Knoxville), Richmond) in addition to promoting some SAL/Carolina franchises and spin up a new league.

 

That's probably more extreme than what we'll end up seeing, but I think anything is possible.

[LincolnDD]

If I had to make a guess today, I would actually guess that Brooklyn and a couple of other NY/Penn teams move into low-A kicking 2-3 SAL teams into the Southern League, including Columbia for the Mets. This is how I could see the Brewers having an interest in a team like Hickory that they could kick from the SAL to the Carolina League and then moving Carolina into the Southern League. Like I said in a previous post, there are a lot of dominoes considering there are likely only about fourteen teams joining affiliate ball between low-A through AAA.

 

Yep, seems like we'll see a good bit of realignment at the Low-A level. I think the Rangers own the Hickory team, so I'm not sure we'll see a change there. They also own their High A team in Kinston (Down East), so my guess is they'll hang on to those for some regional relationship (easy to move players and roving instructors between the two), if teams have a say over their new affiliate structure.

[CheezWizHed]

I liked having Nashville, but I wonder if there will be any hard feelings with the last parting of ways and the new stadium.

[balsamlaker]

LincolnDD...unless the Rangers want to keep their Spokane affiliate, which likely becomes a part of a six-team Northwest League in low-A. If this happens, they could be motivated sellers. Texas could attempt to get completely out of Carolina and go with a Fresno/Spokane combination in A+/A. There is a good chance Fresno replaces Lancaster in the California League.

[LincolnDD]

LincolnDD...unless the Rangers want to keep their Spokane affiliate, which likely becomes a part of a six-team Northwest League in low-A. If this happens, they could be motivated sellers. Texas could attempt to get completely out of Carolina and go with a Fresno/Spokane combination in A+/A. There is a good chance Fresno replaces Lancaster in the California League.

 

Sure, that's a possibility. Maybe facilities are a better draw in Spokane (don't know) and Fresno (probably; it's a AAA-caliber stadium)? Seems like it would be more complicated to divest themselves of two teams, though. Anything I'm missing that would make them prefer Spokane?

 

I'll note that the Rockies are currently affiliated with Lancaster, and that guys who are part of the ownership group of the Fresno Grizzlies are also part of the Colorado Rockies ownership group, so in a scenario where Lancaster is cut and replaced by Fresno in the Cal, the Rockies make sense as new partners there for several reasons.

 

The push for more geographic-friendly alignment seems to be one goal of the milb makeover, so I would think the West Coast teams get first hack at available affiliates on the West Coast.

[LincolnDD]

I liked having Nashville, but I wonder if there will be any hard feelings with the last parting of ways and the new stadium.

 

Hopefully time has healed those hard feelings. Nashville is one of the best spots in AAA. If the rumored move of Sugar Land to affiliated ball as the Astros' AAA team team happens, the Rangers likely go back to Round Rock. Couple that with the rumor that San Antonio could get demoted back to AA, and the Brewers will need a new AAA home. A move back to Nashville would be close to ideal.

[brewmann04]

What will happen if San Antonio does move back to AA what will the Brewers do with Biloxi.

[madbad2000]

I would love the Brewers in Nashville. Puts them about 2 hours away and I selfishly can get to a few games. I would love for Brewers AA to be Rocket City. Facilities are second to none and minutes away. Thats a pipe dream though as Angels and Rocket City have a strong relationship despite geography.

[LincolnDD]

What will happen if San Antonio does move back to AA what will the Brewers do with Biloxi.

 

The way I read it, all current agreements (player development contracts) between teams and affiliates will be voided once September rolls around because the current governing agreement between MLB and MiLB expires. All MiLB teams will essentially be free agents (with the exception of those with MLB ownership). So if San Antonio gets dropped to AA and Biloxi stays at AA, the Brewers would have to choose one or the other for AA, or end up with an entirely new AA affiliate (and new AAA).

 

The Brewers agreements with both affiliates were to end at the conclusion of this season anyway. But teams with agreements that extend beyond this year (e.g. the Rangers have a four-year agreement with Nashville that expires after 2022) would no longer be contracted with one another.

 

This Fall will likely be one gigantic affiliation shuffle, like the one were used to seeing every two years -- on steroids. But then we'll never really see anything like that again, as it's expected that this change will lead to a lot of long-term relationships between mlb teams and affiliates.

[CheezWizHed]

Why would San Antonio drop to AA? Wouldn't they want to stay in AAA (assuming players closer to the majors would be a bigger draw)?

[LincolnDD]

Why would San Antonio drop to AA? Wouldn't they want to stay in AAA (assuming players closer to the majors would be a bigger draw)?

 

It's not their choice. MLB will force these changes, and MLB has the power. MLB's argument is that they don't *need* Minor League Baseball as it currently exists. Once the contract expires in September, MLB can walk away if they want. Once things go back to normal (pre-pandemic), they can just keep all their minor leaguers from all levels at their Spring Training complexes the entire summer and just scrimmage against themselves or players from other MLB teams. Or, without that governing contract, they can just form a new minor league system and leave the current MiLB org out in the cold.

[brewmann04]

Again thanks for the info going to be curious to see where the Crew AAA and AA teams end up.

[CheezWizHed]

Why would San Antonio drop to AA? Wouldn't they want to stay in AAA (assuming players closer to the majors would be a bigger draw)?

 

It's not their choice. MLB will force these changes, and MLB has the power. MLB's argument is that they don't *need* Minor League Baseball as it currently exists. Once the contract expires in September, MLB can walk away if they want. Once things go back to normal (pre-pandemic), they can just keep all their minor leaguers from all levels at their Spring Training complexes the entire summer and just scrimmage against themselves or players from other MLB teams. Or, without that governing contract, they can just form a new minor league system and leave the current MiLB org out in the cold.

 

Well sure they could form new teams, but it would cost a pretty penny to do so.

 

Just given that SA seems like the best AAA option we have had (or was available to us) since Nashville, it seems odd that no one would want them for a AAA team. I could see being a Ranger/Astro AA team if their AAA options were booked, but otherwise I'd think they would have decent MLB options to remain a AAA team given the dearth of good AAA options.

[LincolnDD]

Well sure they could form new teams, but it would cost a pretty penny to do so.

 

Just given that SA seems like the best AAA option we have had (or was available to us) since Nashville, it seems odd that no one would want them for a AAA team. I could see being a Ranger/Astro AA team if their AAA options were booked, but otherwise I'd think they would have decent MLB options to remain a AAA team given the dearth of good AAA options.

 

This is all my interpretation based on what I've read, so I could be wrong!

 

I've read up on this a lot, but I think this article sums it up pretty well: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlbs-proposed-120-milb-teams-for-2021-may-include-some-surprises/

 

It mentions MLB could just walk away from MiLB and create their own development league. In this case, they'd bring their choice of existing organizations with them, so no significant costs that are associated with spinning up new teams. It seems like more of a bargaining chip/threat (I think they made the same threat back in 1990), but something they could realistically do.

 

It also mentions that MLB teams were asked to provide their preferred affiliate sites. That and the report that San Antonio could be demoted (Keith Law report back in April) is why I think San Antonio isn't a preference for the Brewers, or anyone else. I haven't been, but from what I understand the facilities there are subpar. The Rangers choosing Nashville over San Antonio back in the last shuffle was a red flag.

 

I think the Rangers and Astros already have their preferred AA teams in Texas already, so I don't think the demotion would be done to give either Texas team a local AA affiliate, but to make room at AAA for another city by removing a team nobody really wants. San Antonio is a great market for sports, but if the Astros (Sugar Land?) and Rangers (Round Rock?) aren't options, it makes more sense to demote a team with no geographic partner so you can promote another regional team to one of the thirty AAA spots elsewhere (like St. Paul for the Twins, which has been rumored, or Jacksonville for the Marlins or Richmond for the Nationals, which I've speculated about).

[ReverendBrewmeister]

If Richmond builds a new stadium complex, I could definitely see that as a desired promotion to AAA for the Washington Nationals in the upcoming affiliate reshuffle. They could have affiliates within a 2-3 hour drive of DC: AAA - Richmond, VA; AA - Harrisburg, PA; A - Fredericksburg, VA. Each of them would have ballparks built or recently renovated, with Harrisburg being the oldest, having undergone renovation in 2009.

 

I'd be curious if the Brewers might try to tie in with either Wichita or Omaha. With Wichita moving into a new stadium, the Royals could think about breaking their long-standing association with Omaha. If so, that could open up Omaha for the Brewers, which would be a decent location in the current AAA footprint. That's assuming there isn't a radical reshuffling of lower league cities (e.g. Midwest League locations) to the AAA level.

[CheezWizHed]

It also mentions that MLB teams were asked to provide their preferred affiliate sites. That and the report that San Antonio could be demoted (Keith Law report back in April) is why I think San Antonio isn't a preference for the Brewers, or anyone else. I haven't been, but from what I understand the facilities there are subpar. The Rangers choosing Nashville over San Antonio back in the last shuffle was a red flag.

 

I think the Rangers and Astros already have their preferred AA teams in Texas already, so I don't think the demotion would be done to give either Texas team a local AA affiliate, but to make room at AAA for another city by removing a team nobody really wants. San Antonio is a great market for sports, but if the Astros (Sugar Land?) and Rangers (Round Rock?) aren't options, it makes more sense to demote a team with no geographic partner so you can promote another regional team to one of the thirty AAA spots elsewhere (like St. Paul for the Twins, which has been rumored, or Jacksonville for the Marlins or Richmond for the Nationals, which I've speculated about).

 

I'll admit that I have NOT done any reading on this. I'm just surprised. San Antonio is a large market and seemed like a good affiliate (I was happy to be out of CS and there instead). It also seems like an ideal spot for the Texas MLB teams as it is half-way between both clubs. Maybe SA just isn't a baseball town? They did only draw 4k average (compared to the 8K average for the St. Paul Saints).

[balsamlaker]

The only negative about Nashville reconnecting with Milwaukee is the possibility that Nashville gets a major league team in the near future and the Brewers are again looking like they were in the early nineties when the Rockies began their franchise and the Zephyrs moved from Denver to New Orleans. My prediction is San Antonio becomes the AA affiliate of the Diamondbacks. I agree with LincolnDD that Richmond is worthy of a AAA affiliate and I would put Hartford and Birmingham also in that category. Rochester and Round Rock are a couple of cities to watch and are both worthy of AAA franchises going forward.

[LincolnDD]

I'll admit that I have NOT done any reading on this. I'm just surprised. San Antonio is a large market and seemed like a good affiliate (I was happy to be out of CS and there instead). It also seems like an ideal spot for the Texas MLB teams as it is half-way between both clubs. Maybe SA just isn't a baseball town? They did only draw 4k average (compared to the 8K average for the St. Paul Saints).

 

I think either Texas team would love to be in that market, but teams care more and more about player facilities than geography these days, especially the Astros (who are reportedly the "inspiration" for this whole process). And from what I understand, the stadium isn't in a great location; there's nothing around it (bars, restaurants, entertainment), so probably one of the reasons the attendance is meh.

 

I know there were reports around the time of the relocation that, without a new stadium, the owners could move the team out again. Might bear watching.

[LincolnDD]

I'd be curious if the Brewers might try to tie in with either Wichita or Omaha. With Wichita moving into a new stadium, the Royals could think about breaking their long-standing association with Omaha. If so, that could open up Omaha for the Brewers, which would be a decent location in the current AAA footprint. That's assuming there isn't a radical reshuffling of lower league cities (e.g. Midwest League locations) to the AAA level.

 

I'd love to see Wichita, especially if there's a new AAA leave in the Midwest. Can't do better than the newest AAA stadium in the minors.

[LincolnDD]

The only negative about Nashville reconnecting with Milwaukee is the possibility that Nashville gets a major league team in the near future and the Brewers are again looking like they were in the early nineties when the Rockies began their franchise and the Zephyrs moved from Denver to New Orleans. My prediction is San Antonio becomes the AA affiliate of the Diamondbacks. I agree with LincolnDD that Richmond is worthy of a AAA affiliate and I would put Hartford and Birmingham also in that category. Rochester and Round Rock are a couple of cities to watch and are both worthy of AAA franchises going forward.

 

Definitely a concern with Nashville. Same deal with Charlotte perhaps? And both cities have relatively new stadiums; I wonder how taxpayers would feel if they're asked to build another new park so soon after the AAA parks were opened.

[LincolnDD]

This is super interesting (at least to me):

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-milb-expected-to-return-to-negotiating-table-soon/

 

Suggests High A and Low A leagues could swap levels (so Caroline League/Mudcats would be Low A and Midwest League/Rattlers would be High A).

 

Also a suggestion that the Florida State League, after dropping to Low A, would split their season between the Florida sites and other cities, like those in the NY-Penn, which would save a lot of teams that would otherwise be contracted. That could also possibly lead to a similar scenario in Arizona at the complexes, with teams splitting time between Arizona and the Northwest League, as some of the teams in the NW League don't necessarily want the rumored promotion to full season.

[balsamlaker]

BA recently had an article that explained soon MILB would be returning to the table. It will be interesting how quickly things "come together". Many leagues historically have released schedules previously during the summer months, but that is really difficult to do without knowing which teams will be at which levels. I don't think it will concern the Brewers, but there is talk New Orleans will want to get back in MILB, likely at the AA level. If I was a "betting man", I would put Milwaukee's AAA in Rochester, as I think they deserve to keep a AAA team and I don't see a match for them if the Twins and St. Paul match up. If Rochester happens, it would be interesting to see if the Brewers try to get a AA affiliate somewhere between Carolina and Rochester. Who knows, maybe they would try to make something happen with someone not on the initial "list" like Erie or Chattanooga or even with the independent league Barnstormers in Lancaster, PA. It would not be a surprise to see Stearns get involved in what was being referred to as the "Wild West" a couple of months ago.

[MadThinker88]

BA recently had an article that explained soon MILB would be returning to the table. It will be interesting how quickly things "come together". Many leagues historically have released schedules previously during the summer months, but that is really difficult to do without knowing which teams will be at which levels. I don't think it will concern the Brewers, but there is talk New Orleans will want to get back in MILB, likely at the AA level. If I was a "betting man", I would put Milwaukee's AAA in Rochester, as I think they deserve to keep a AAA team and I don't see a match for them if the Twins and St. Paul match up. If Rochester happens, it would be interesting to see if the Brewers try to get a AA affiliate somewhere between Carolina and Rochester. Who knows, maybe they would try to make something happen with someone not on the initial "list" like Erie or Chattanooga or even with the independent league Barnstormers in Lancaster, PA. It would not be a surprise to see Stearns get involved in what was being referred to as the "Wild West" a couple of months ago.

 

Just so we are on the same page, the Rochester with a AAA team is in Rochester, NEW YORK, not Rochester, MINN...

[LincolnDD]

Right. The Rochester in MN doesn't appear to have adequate facilities to host affiliated ball.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Right. The Rochester in MN doesn't appear to have adequate facilities to host affiliated ball.

At least as of two years ago its biggest baseball team was its Northwoods League team, and I doubt anything has changed.