Minor League Affiliation Report: September 17-23, 2012
The Arizona Instructional League, featuring players such as Albert Almora and Jorge Soler, has started. More importantly, however, is that the Cubs 2013 farm system is all but set with the finalizing of new Player Development Contracts in Advanced, Low, and Short-season A ball. Let’s get a quick look at the teams’ histories.
AAA Iowa Cubs
League: Pacific Coast League
Venue: Principal Park, Des Moines, Iowa
Previous Affiliations: Oakland Athletics (1969-1972), Chicago White Sox (1972-1974), Houston Astros (1975), Chicago White Sox (1976-1980), Chicago Cubs (1981-Present)
Previously Known As: Iowa Oaks (1969-1981), Iowa Cubs (1982-Present)
Signed Through: 2016
AA Tennessee Smokies
League: Southern League
Venue: Smokies Park, Kodak, Tennessee
Previous Affiliations: Chicago White Sox (1972-1979), Toronto Blue Jays (1980-2002), St. Louis Cardinals (2003-2004), Arizona Diamondbacks (2005-2006), Chicago Cubs (2007-Present)
Previously Known As: Knoxville Sox (1972-1979), Knoxville Blue Jays (1880-1992), Knoxville Smokies (1993-1999), Tennessee Smokies (2000-Present)
Signed Through: 2014
A+ Daytona Cubs
League: Florida State League
Venue: Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Daytona Beach, Florida
Previous Affiliations: Chicago Chicago Cubs (1993-Present)
Previously Known As: Daytona Cubs (1993-Present)
Signed Through: 2014
A- Kane County Cougars
League: Midwest League
Venue: Fifth Third Bank, Geneva, Illinois
Previous Affiliations: New York Mets (1975-1978), Co-op (1979-1980), Seattle Mariners (1981-1989), Baltimore Orioles (1990-1992), Florida Marlins (1993-2002), Oakland Athletics (2003-2010), Kansas City Royals (2011-2012)
Previously Known As: Wausau Mets (1975-1978), Wausau Timbers (1979-1990), Kane County Cougars (1991-Present)
Signed Through: 2014
SS Boise Hawks
League: Northwest League
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Previous Affiliations: Independent (1987-1989), California Angels (1990-1996), Anaheim Angels (1997-2000), Chicago Cubs (2001-Present)
Previously Known As: Boise Hawks (1987-Present)
Signed Through: 2014
Rookie Levels
Rookie Leagues are not operated as franchises, but more like academies. All Advanced (franchise) Rookie teams are already signed, so there is no reason to believe the Cubs would fold the AZL Cubs, as they just at the maximum of six American and Canadian based franchises with it. The DSL Cubs1 and Cubs2 figure to remain as the teams maximum of two international farm teams.
The only loss from the 2012 minor league system is the Low-A Peoria Chiefs, as the Cubs opted to affiliate with a team closer to Chicago, hence the Cougars signing. However, as word of this leaked before teams were allowed to negotiate with any affiliate besides their own, in a similar fashion to the reported illegal negotiating with Jorge Soler, the new front office doesn’t seem to always play by the rules to get what they want. You can give a big unfollow to the Chiefs on twitter as they signed a four-year PDC with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. The only downside of the Cougars affiliation is their outdated website, which is much less modern compared to the MiLB.com-operated sites every other minor league team uses. As for the Cougars, it is expected that a team with a rich history would keep its name and colors, but Epstein was quoted as saying that it still may be changed to “Cubs” for marketing purposes.
Additionally, the Cubs still host the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League at HoHoKam Park, but it is unknown as the whether the team will move with them to their new spring stadium opening in 2014, or if they will remain at HoHoKam with Oakland (assuming they aren’t San Jose by then) as their hosts.