Three teams in the Southern League are testing the waters in the form of Player Development Contracts for 2019 and beyond. Per the Pensacola News Journal, the Blue Wahoos have become the newest free agent in PDC's after terminating their affiliation contract with the Cincinnati Reds on September 11th, a deal was slated to end this year. With the announcement that the Blue Wahoos will be searching for a new PDC, five teams are on the board.
The Chattanooga Lookouts, a fellow Southern League team, have yet to announce an extension with the Minnesota Twins. The four year deal with the Twins came to a close this season making the Twins an option for the Blue Wahoos. One of the other options comes after the San Antonio Missions moved to AAA with the Milwaukee Brewers. This leaves the San Diego Padres without an AA organization.
Two other teams in Double-A baseball have uncertain futures with their PDC. The Chicago Cubs have yet to sign an extension with the Tennessee Smokies, a relationship that began in 2007, and the Oakland Athletics haven't signed an extension with the Midland RockHounds, a relationship that dates back to 1999. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Oakland isn't an option for the Blue Wahoos.
Minnesota has extended their player development contract with the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A), Fort Myers Miracle (Class A-Advanced), and Cedar Rapids Kernels (Class A) leaving Chattanooga the only team without an extension. Before signing with Chattanooga in 2015, Minnesota spent almost 20 years with the New Britain Rock Cats. Chattanooga has picked up two championships with the Twins in 2015 and 2017.
Oakland has moved their Triple-A affiliation from Nashville to Las Vegas. They have signed extensions with the Stockton Ports (Class A-Advanced) and Vermont Lake Monsters (Class A-Short) through 2020. The Oakland Athletics were last seen in the Southern League from 1985 through 1998 with the Huntsville Stars. The Stars won the Southern League Championship in 1985 and 1994. The Athletics were also with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1977 and 1976.
The Cincinnati Reds signed extensions with the Louisville Bats (Triple-A) and Daytona Tortugas (Class A-Advanced) through 2020 but will be looking for a new Double-A affiliate for the first time since the end of the 2011 season. The Chattanooga Lookouts have a connection with the Cincinnati Reds. From 1988 to 2008, the Reds were affiliated with the Lookouts. During the Reds PDC Era stars like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Justin Turner, Edwin Encarnacion, Drew Stubbs, Adam Dunn, and others began building their careers in Chattanooga.
The San Diego Padres have signed extensions with the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A) and Fort Wayne TinCaps (Class A-Advanced) but they will be looking for a new Double-A affiliate for the first time since 2006. The San Diego Padres were last seen in the Southern League from 1997 through 2006 with the Mobile BayBears. With the Padres, the BayBears won the Southern League Championship in 1998 and 2004. This is the first time since 2007 that the Padres have been searching for a Player Development Contract.
The Chicago Cubs have signed extensions with the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A), Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class A-Advanced), South Bend Cubs (Class A), and Eugene Cubs (Class A-Short Season) while the Tennessee Smokies are the only team without an extension. The Cubs have been with a Southern League team since 1989 earning only one championship in 2000 with the West Tennesse Diamond Jaxx. It's the first time since the end of the 2006 season that the Cubs are searching for a Double-A affiliate. (Koelle,2018)
The Chattanooga Lookouts, a fellow Southern League team, have yet to announce an extension with the Minnesota Twins. The four year deal with the Twins came to a close this season making the Twins an option for the Blue Wahoos. One of the other options comes after the San Antonio Missions moved to AAA with the Milwaukee Brewers. This leaves the San Diego Padres without an AA organization.
Two other teams in Double-A baseball have uncertain futures with their PDC. The Chicago Cubs have yet to sign an extension with the Tennessee Smokies, a relationship that began in 2007, and the Oakland Athletics haven't signed an extension with the Midland RockHounds, a relationship that dates back to 1999. The Pensacola News Journal reported that Oakland isn't an option for the Blue Wahoos.
Minnesota has extended their player development contract with the Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A), Fort Myers Miracle (Class A-Advanced), and Cedar Rapids Kernels (Class A) leaving Chattanooga the only team without an extension. Before signing with Chattanooga in 2015, Minnesota spent almost 20 years with the New Britain Rock Cats. Chattanooga has picked up two championships with the Twins in 2015 and 2017.
Oakland has moved their Triple-A affiliation from Nashville to Las Vegas. They have signed extensions with the Stockton Ports (Class A-Advanced) and Vermont Lake Monsters (Class A-Short) through 2020. The Oakland Athletics were last seen in the Southern League from 1985 through 1998 with the Huntsville Stars. The Stars won the Southern League Championship in 1985 and 1994. The Athletics were also with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1977 and 1976.
The Cincinnati Reds signed extensions with the Louisville Bats (Triple-A) and Daytona Tortugas (Class A-Advanced) through 2020 but will be looking for a new Double-A affiliate for the first time since the end of the 2011 season. The Chattanooga Lookouts have a connection with the Cincinnati Reds. From 1988 to 2008, the Reds were affiliated with the Lookouts. During the Reds PDC Era stars like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Justin Turner, Edwin Encarnacion, Drew Stubbs, Adam Dunn, and others began building their careers in Chattanooga.
The San Diego Padres have signed extensions with the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A) and Fort Wayne TinCaps (Class A-Advanced) but they will be looking for a new Double-A affiliate for the first time since 2006. The San Diego Padres were last seen in the Southern League from 1997 through 2006 with the Mobile BayBears. With the Padres, the BayBears won the Southern League Championship in 1998 and 2004. This is the first time since 2007 that the Padres have been searching for a Player Development Contract.
The Chicago Cubs have signed extensions with the Iowa Cubs (Triple-A), Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class A-Advanced), South Bend Cubs (Class A), and Eugene Cubs (Class A-Short Season) while the Tennessee Smokies are the only team without an extension. The Cubs have been with a Southern League team since 1989 earning only one championship in 2000 with the West Tennesse Diamond Jaxx. It's the first time since the end of the 2006 season that the Cubs are searching for a Double-A affiliate. (Koelle,2018)
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