2021 Brewers Affiliates

[Brewers Numbers]

JJ Cooper retweeted Anthony DiComo's tweet and added:

Columbia is not gone. Columbia will be someone else's affiliate.

 

From Anthony DiComo:

Sandy Alderson says the Mets' minor league affiliates going forward will be located in:

 

-Syracuse

-Binghamton

-Brooklyn

-St. Lucie

 

Kingsport and Columbia are gone.

 

 

As I mentioned earlier Syracuse, Brooklyn, and St. Lucie were purchased by Steve Cohen as part of or as separate mini-deals when he bought the Mets.

 

Edit: Adding the link to the JJ Cooper story LincolnDD is referring to. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/binghamton-brooklyn-survive-as-mets-announce-2021-minor-league-affiliates/

[LincolnDD]

And Cooper followed up with an article stating that Binghamton will still be the Mets' AA team, knocking down two long-standing rumors:

 

-Binghamton isn't being cut, obviously

-Brooklyn isn't getting promoted to AA (this likely means they'll be in a High A League with the new Yankees team).

 

So the Mets and Yankees have made eight of the final 120 official. Trickle, trickle, trickle...

[Brewers Numbers]

Per this article the MLB teams know their affiliations: https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/11/10/mlb-teams-being-appraised-of-their-milb-affiliates/

 

Similarly, we’ve heard from a few MLB farm directors who are dissatisfied with their new affiliate lineup. One issue in particular: with the move of the Northwest League from Short Season A to High A, West Coast MLB teams are being herded into affiliations there. With the Midwest League also shifting to High A, some West Coast MLB teams have fought moves away from their longtime Midwest League affiliates to new Northwest League affiliates, no matter how inconvenient the travel or incongruous the distance from other affiliates.

 

Remember: the old days of MiLB and MLB teams negotiating their affiliation relationships are gone. Instead, MLB will assign affiliates; MiLB teams will have no say in assignments.

[Brewers Numbers]

Soooo, maybe unrelated question, have the Mudcats sold off uniforms in the past?

[Brewers Numbers]

Twins news: https://www.startribune.com/twins-drop-rochester-as-aaa-affiliate-eye-st-paul-as-replacement/573034791/

 

The Twins officially informed the owner of the Rochester Red Wings that the New York site will no longer be their Class AAA affiliate. It’s move that is part of a massive overhaul of minor league baseball.

 

According to a source with knowledge of discussions, the Twins spoke with Red Wings President and CEO Naomi Silver on Tuesday, with Red Wings employees learning shortly afterward....

...

The [st Paul] Saints, who play in the independent American Association, have been talking with the Twins and MLB about an affiliation in recent months and, according to a source with knowledge of those discussions, those talks have been progressing well. In fact, there is a belief that a framework of a deal is in place.

 

One big hangup: The Saints would have to write an eight-figure check — perhaps as much as $20 million — in order to become an affiliate. There are no indications that their ownership group, which includes Marv Goldklang, Mike Veeck and comedian/actor Bill Murray, are willing to do that. The Saints have been seeking better terms as talks have continued, with some positive signs.

 

And to answer the Milkmen question - from the same article;

The Saints and the Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters are believed to be the only two teams from independent baseball that will become affiliates.

[balsamlaker]

Somerset was also an independent baseball team that the Yankees have already said will become their AA team.

[balsamlaker]

With both the Mets and Yankees leaving South Carolina, I wonder if the Brewers would consider keeping the Mudcats name but try to "upgrade" into a different location? There have at times been rumors the team wanted to get into Raleigh and out of Zebulon.

[LincolnDD]

Rochester make the Twins departure official:

 

[MadThinker88]

Rochester make the Twins departure official:

 

 

It will be interesting to see how MLB fills the affiliation spot in Rochester, NY.

Just spit-balling on my part.... Perhaps Pittsburgh gets moved there in order to 'free up' a place like Indianapolis for a team that is further west than Pittsburgh..

[LincolnDD]

I do think Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense in Rochester (I did that in my failed attempt to figure out the leagues a few weeks ago!), and that would certainly seem to benefit the Brewers, as the rest of the regional teams seem content with their current AAA affiliates. My guess is the Nats still end up there, but the Richmond whispers are pretty loud.

 

I'm starting to think AA isn't going to see to many major shake-ups at this point, and I still think that points to the Brewers staying in Biloxi.

 

Colorado likely to stay in Hartford: https://news.yahoo.com/minor-league-realignment-settles-look-113600973.html

 

Wichita likely for the Twins (and Marlins in Pensacola, which we already knew):

[balsamlaker]

At the AAA level, I am thinking it is a "final four" with Indianapolis, Nashville, Rochester, and Round Rock; with the Brewers, Nationals, Pirates, and Rangers involved. Round Rock only comes into play if Sugar Land becomes the AAA affiliate of the Astros. Travel-wise, I believe Nashville is the only direct flight from Milwaukee.

[Eye Black]

At the AAA level, I am thinking it is a "final four" with Indianapolis, Nashville, Rochester, and Round Rock; with the Brewers, Nationals, Pirates, and Rangers involved. Round Rock only comes into play if Sugar Land becomes the AAA affiliate of the Astros. Travel-wise, I believe Nashville is the only direct flight from Milwaukee.

I think it’s very likely the Rangers end up in Round Rock.

[LincolnDD]

I do think the Rangers end up back there, too. But balsamlaker's suggestion of Round Rock/San Antonio pairing is really intriguing.

 

The guy from Ballpark Digest said the other day that the Cubs will keep Myrtle Beach, but it will be a Low-A team. I think that makes it safe to assume that Carolina will also make the classification move as well.

[walleye]

Was listening to mlb on XM said all teams will have their minor leauge teams no later then December 1st

[balsamlaker]

I am going to say Round Rock is my fifth choice of those four teams. I would go 1. Nashville, 2. Indianapolis, 3. Rochester, 4. Wichita, and 5. Round Rock. Just can't compete with Nashville's direct flight to the Milwaukee airport. Indianapolis is a great location for an NL Central affiliate.

[brewmann04]

Nashville will be fun after getting kicked out

[wibadgers23]

I’m hoping for Nashville or Indianapolis.

[LincolnDD]

Astros to Sugar Land unofficially official:

 

And Rangers could then fill the void in Round Rock: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2020/11/16/sources-rangers-reunion-with-aaa-round-rock-possible/

[LincolnDD]

You can probably bet on a Rangers-Round Rock reunion:

 

However:

 

Kevin Lyttle

@klyttlesports

What happens if @Rangers and @Express do not have a reunion? One rumor: San Antonio returns to Double-A Texas League and @Brewers top affiliate slides up from SA to RR. Yet that flies in the face of #MLB's geography angle for re-aligning Minor League Baseball. #Astros

 

I assume the Rangers would stay in Nashville if they don't go to Round Rock. Does this mean the Brewers would end up with the affiliate the Rangers don't get, Nashville or Round Rock? Kinda sounds like it, but maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[balsamlaker]

If the Rangers don't return to Round Rock, the Brewers are probably their best AAA option as I don't foresee Washington or Pittsburgh headed to the Austin area.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: We know that if the Brewers remain aligned with San Antonio at all, it won't be at the AAA level

[brewmann04]

Mass who would you rather see us with in Double A San Antonio or Biloxi

[MadThinker88]

I'm doubting Indy is going to be available....

Pittsburgh is not heading to Rochester, NY.

Washington going to be there instead..

 

As for the Twins, the talks with St. Paul are still ongoing..

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/rochester-red-wings-nationals-triple-a-twins-st-paul-saints.html

[wibadgers23]

So does that pretty much leave Nashville for the Brewers then?

[MadThinker88]

So does that pretty much leave Nashville for the Brewers then?

 

Unlike past years when it was MLB clubs negotiating with the AAA site, now it is the MLB office & they are assigning the pairings.

I've heard/ read rumblings that the final pairings are going to be announced before 12/1/20.

 

We will find out soon..