Minor Baseball: The Farm & The Indies
Affiliated Baseball (Continued from previous page)
The Farm System
All major league clubs will have affiliations with one team in each of the levels of baseball. At the Rookie level, clubs may have multiple affiliations, sometimes within the same league. There are also Rookie clubs in the Dominican league that may develop players for two clubs.
Do these affiliations change?
Frequently. Major league clubs sign affiliation agreements with minor league clubs. When the contracts are up, they can be re-evaluated. Also, local clubs that move for financial reasons to another market might fall out of the strategic planning of the major league club.In 2000, the Dodgers and Padres "swapped" minor league clubs. The Albuquerque Dukes were sold and relocated to Portland, as the Beavers. The Padres had historic ties to Portland, and the Dodgers wanted their AAA affiliate closer to home. The Dodgers took Las Vegas, with the renamed 51s, and the Padres dammed up the Beavers.
The Houston Astros, looking to maximize their holdings in Texas real estate, took the newly promoted AAA Round Rock Express as their affiliate, releasing prior partner New Orleans in 2004. The Big Easy took the Expos affiliation, which the team headed to Round Rock from Canada previously held.
Are There Non-Affiliated Teams?
Many. None of them directly contribute to the major league clubs, nor are any of their players under contract to a major league club (See Independent Baseball).
Continued...
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