clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Brewers likely to move Triple-A affiliation to Fresno, per report

The Brewers appear set to move change Triple-A affiliations, as Fresno, California appears to be the most likely option for a new agreement.

According to a report at Ballpark Digest, it appears the Brewers' are likely to part ways with the Nashville Sounds after the conclusion of the Triple-A affiliate's season. (h/t @mass_haas).

Nashville won't just be left unaffiliated, of course. The Oakland Athletics appear ready to start an agreement with the team. The A's would then leave Sacramento unoccupied, with the San Francisco Giants moving their Triple-A team there. The Brewers then appear set to begin a deal with Fresno (which had been with the Giants) as their new Triple-A affiliate, according to the Modesto Bee.

For now, it's still against MLB rules for major league organizations to begin talks with other affiliates, so none of this is technically official.

The Brewers had extended their agreement with the Sounds for two additional years back in 2012. They had also been working towards building a new stadium in Nashville with the goal of replacing the decrepit Greer Stadium, where they have been housed for 37 years. The new First Tennessee Park is slated to open in time for the 2015 season.

If Milwaukee does indeed move their highest minor league team to Fresno, the Grizzlies would have a sense of familiarity: The Brewers actually housed a minor league affiliate there back in 2007. Fresno also plays in the Pacific Coast League along with the Sounds. The Astros, Diamondbacks, Rangers and Astros have also housed minor league teams in Fresno.

Chukchanski Park, built in 2002, can hold 12,500 roaring fans. It looks like pretty good digs. In addition to baseball games, it also is the home to the Fresno Fuego soccer team in the USL Premier Development League and has hosted music events.

If not Fresno, the Albuquerque Isotopes and Colorado Springs Sky Sox (both members of the Pacific Coast League) will also be looking for new affiliations. The Isotopes have been affiliated with the Dodgers and are purportedly named after the Springfield Isotopes as an homage to The Simpsons. The Sky Sox have been affiliated with the Rockies since 1993.

The Brewers are already going to see a change in Double-A, as well. The Huntsville (Alabama) Stars are moving to a new stadium in Biloxi, Mississippi for the 2015 season after failing to secure a new deal in Huntsville.

There should be a more official announcement on what the Brewers plan to do in the next couple of weeks.